Portion
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”
Matthew 12:1-2 NKJV
Jesus and the Disciples had just feasted at the home of Matthew. We are not told how long it had been since that day , but it was long enough that they were hungry.
There has been some deception in the Church.
When we follow Jesus there is a misconception, a trap, that many people believe.
Many have been told and taught that following Jesus would bring them everything they ever wanted. That everything in life is going to be good. That all the problems of this world fade away.
Sometimes, most times, it seems to be the opposite.
But following Jesus Christ to the ends of the World does not guarantee that everything is going to be served on a silver platter. Following Jesus doesn’t mean that we will not have any concerns, fears, doubts or worries.
Look at it like this, The Disciples are following Jesus. They had just feasted, now they are famished.
They don’t complain, they don’t utter a word, they follow the Master, their Teacher, their Rabbi.
They follow Jesus in the celebration of the feast they follow Jesus in the pangs of hunger.
As long as Jesus Christ is with us, it should not matter what’s behind us or ahead of us. If we are following Him closely we must trust and depend on His guidance.
No matter what stage of life you are in, either feast or famine, as long as Jesus is your portion you will have enough. Anything that He gives or takes away is enough.
Sometimes you will have more than enough! Sometimes it will feel like you have nothing, but the Lord will always, somehow some way provide!
It may be a feast or it may be a grain of wheat.
The Disciples are just following, walking with the Lord. Nothing special. No miracles are being performed. No one is being healed of leprosy. No demons are being expelled from anyone, just a normal regular uneventful day.
There doesn’t have to be a miraculous event every day to show that Jesus is the Messiah.
If we stopped from our busy lives and looked around we could see the Amazing Hand of God at work in everything! How beautiful the green grass is. The flight of birds in the beautiful sky. How the fish swim into the depths of the water.
Everyday the sun comes up, that’s a miracle. Everyday you open your eyes and breath in His air, that’s a miracle.
Sometimes our days seem like they are so uneventful.
PLEASE sit still for a moment and look at all His hands have created. Look at how He sustains it all!
Are there signs and wonders, of course there is.
But we must live by Faith and not signs and wonders. The Disciples here are content with just being in HIs Precious presence, nothing more and nothing less.
Jesus could have performed some kind of miracle and brought them food. I am sure that He could see their hunger, because He is all knowing.
He allows them to hunger a bit. This by no means shows Jesus to be uncaring, unkind or not providing for His Disciples!
He gives them the opportunity to gleen for themselves.
The Disciples are hungry, they don’t complain, and not even knowing Jesus is guiding them to a place that will satisfy that hunger!
Is God a God of miracles, yes! Is He the Great provider? Of course.
Think about this He took His Disciples on a path that brought them to the field that had grain.
We have to be observant enough to what the Lord is leading to and through.
It might not be what we want, but it will always be what we need!
He took them through the fields. All they had to do was pluck and take the wheat and rub it in their hands to get a small grain to satisfy their hunger.
Do not overlook even the smallest things in our lives as the Lord’s Great provision and portion.
If He stands with us, if we cling to Him, what else shall we need?
Jesus is with us in the feast, He is with us in the famine. He is our portion when it seems like there isn’t enough to go around. HE is the One that makes a Way when it seems like there is no way.
And His Followers are satisfied with that!
Are you satisfied?
Sometimes we are so hungry for something that we search to be filled.
Oh, yes we will be filled. The world is happy to oblige.
O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.
Psalms 16:5 NKJV
We must look to the Lord Jesus Christ as our full portion. He is the source of our happiness and blessing. It is not like the world provides, but better! It’s more magnificent than we can ever consider to have God as our portion!
The amazing thing about His portion is one that never goes away.
But we must learn to be content with what the Lord provides.
We see portion as an abundance of something.
In Biblical definition it means inheritance!
Jesus is the best inheritance imaginable! Far better than what one could hope or desire!
The Disciples probably didn’t realize it but Who was walking with them and guiding them would be the very One to give His inheritance of Heaven freely at the Cross!
Not just them but all who find complete satisfaction in Him.
Not seeking any possession or any comfort outside of what God provides. Not chasing after riches, fortune or fame.
Not even in the pangs of hunger.
It follows the One that has ability and the willingness to guide to the wheat fields.
If God is our portion, we need nothing else!
Today contemplate if you are satisfied with His portion!
Pastor Ed