Author: Servants of God

Jesus Feeds More Than 5000 (Matt 14:13-21, Mk. 6:30 44; Lk. 9:10 17; Jn. 6:1 14)
When Jesus heard John death, he left in a boat. He went alone to a place where no one lived. But the people heard that Jesus had left. So they left their towns and followed him. They went by land to the same place he went. When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd of people. He felt sorry for them, and he healed the ones who were sick. Late that afternoon, the followers came to Jesus and said, “No one lives in this place. And it is already late. Send the people away so they can go to the towns and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said, “The people don’t need to go away. You give them some food to eat.” The followers answered, “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish.” Jesus said, “Bring the bread and the fish to me.” Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. He looked into the sky and thanked God for the food. Then he broke the bread into pieces, which he gave to the followers, and they gave the food to the people. Everyone ate until they were full. When they finished eating, the followers filled twelve baskets with the pieces of food that were not eaten. There were about 5000 men there who ate. There were also women and children who ate.

Just as the disciples and the crowd were in a desolate place, we too face situations where we feel lost, overwhelmed, or lacking in resources. The five loaves and two fish represent the things we have, the talents we possess, and the faith we hold. He takes our small offerings, multiples them, and uses them to feed a massive crowd, demonstrating that God can transform our limitations into abundance and grace. The leftover baskets reminds us that the God’s generosity extend beyond our immediate requirements. Just as the disciples were initially hesitant but then played a role in distributing the food, we are called to be instruments of God’s grace and to participate in meeting the needs around us.

In John 2:1-11, we see Jesus first miracle, turning water into wine
There was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee, and Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his followers were also invited. At the wedding there was not enough wine, so Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” Jesus answered, “Dear woman, why are you telling me this? It is not yet time for me to begin my work.” His mother said to the servants, “Do what he tells you.” There were six large stone water pots there that were used by the Jews in their washing ceremonies’ Each one held about 20 or 30 gallons’ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the water pots with water.” So they filled them to the top. Then he said to them, “Now dip out some water and take it to the man in charge of the feast.” So they did what he said. Then the man in charge tasted it, but the water had become wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants who brought the water knew. He called the bridegroom and said to him, “People always serve the best wine first. Later, when the guests are drunk, they serve the cheaper wine. But you have saved the best wine until now.” This was the first of all the miraculous signs Jesus did. He did it in the town of Cana in Galilee. By this he showed his divine greatness, and his followers believed in him.

God cares about all of our lives. If it matters to you, it matters to Jesus. The water into wine sign is a sign of how God acts. God is the God of abundance and will give you what you need.

Peer pressure is when you are influenced by the other people (your peers) to act in a certain way. If you’re with friends who are doing something that you typically would not do and they convince you to do what they are doing, that is peer pressure.

Galatians 6:1-5 encourages believers to gently restore those who stumble in sin, to be mindful of their own potential for temptation, and to focus on their own spiritual growth and responsibility, rather than comparing themselves to others.

In Romans 12:1-2, we see Paul urges believers to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, and to not conform to the world but be transformed by renewing their minds to discern God’s will.

How to overcome peer pressure?
Get grounded yourself in faith, seek guidance through prayer and scripture, and build a strong moral compass by understanding and living by your values. In general terms, get support and talk to someone you trust. Be direct and say you don’t appreciate feeling pressured. Move away from the situation.

Controlling your tongue is being mindful of what you say and speaking words that are kind, loving and gracious. The Bible says that controlling your tongue can lead to a long life and help you avoid calamity.

Proverbs 11:13 says, “ Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered”. This proverb emphasizes the importance of keeping secrets confidential and being respectful of others privacy.

James 3:1-12 emphasizes the immense power and potential for destruction that the tongue possesses, comparing it to a small bit controlling a large horse, a ship’s rudder, or a fire that can ignite a whole forest, highlighting the need for careful control over one’s speech and to avoid using words that can harm others, as it reveals the true nature of one’s heart; essentially, it warns against using tongue to bless God while simultaneously cursing others, as this demonstrates hypocrisy and a lack of true wisdom.

Speak word that encourage, comfort, and inspire. Ask for forgiveness for unloving words. Saturate your mind with godly things. Reject ungodly things. These are few biblical ways to control your tongue.