As I mentioned in the last episode, I’m currently in the throes of spring gardening, which is a busy time. But it never fails to remind me of why I started using the TEND method of Bible study. So much about tending a garden relates to how God tends to our souls.
From getting the soil ready to receive the seeds or young plants to buying the right companion plants to put around one another, I see illustrations of God’s provision. He prepares our hearts to receive His Word when we come before Him in prayer, which is why with the TEND method of Bible study we begin with T for take time to pray.
So let’s start there. Will you pray with me?
Lord thank you for the refreshment of Your Word and how you tend to our souls with it. Would you reveal yourself to us today and help us to receive the love you have for us that will bring forth fruit in our lives? Amen.
So in the TEND method we move from T to E which is examine the scripture. We have been walking alongside Jesus in the book of Mark this year. On the podcast we have skimmed through not being able to hit every verse. But in my tending time with Jesus in the mornings, I am approaching every verse in turn and inviting God to tend its truths daily into my soul. I hope you are too!
Here we carry on more of the conversation and I have free reading guides for you in the Tending through Mark Series.
Today we are looking at Mark 6:41-44 but I encourage you to read the entire chapter because there is so much there. But as I tended through these verses a few things stood out that I want to explore with you today. So let’s examine verses 41-44.
It says:
41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
In the scene, Jesus’s disciples have returned after a time of heavy ministry. He encouraged them to come away with Him for rest and reflection, but they were confronted with a crowd of over 5000 people. Jesus serves the crowd by giving His day to teach them. At the end of the day, they are hungry, and the disciples come asking how to feed them. Jesus asks them to bring what they have, which is the 5 loaves and 2 fish. So here in our verses, Jesus gives thanks and hands the food to the disciples to set before the people. The crowd eats the food until they are satisfied and the leftovers are collected equaling 12 full baskets.
When examining the verses it is helpful to pay attention to what is happening, sometimes I write out a brief summary and sometimes I just identify the pronouns so I know who is talking and responding, etc.
So as we move from E to N in TEND we go from examine the scripture to notice the lesson. The most important question we can ask as we seek to know the lesson here is what is it teaching about God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
What stood out to me about God is He provides, not only the initial 5 loaves and 2 fish but also the abundance as there is ample food for the crowd to be satisfied and then still collect 12 baskets of leftovers.
We also see here that Jesus invites us to participate with Him in serving others. He could have simply filled their stomachs, but instead Jesus asks for what they have, He receives it, gives thanks and then breaks it (such a picture of what will be done through Him at the cross as He is broken for our salvation) and then He offers the broken pieces to the disciples to pass out to the people. He invites us to co-labor with Him.
In his letter to the Corinthians Paul tells them of this truth. In 1 Corinthians 3:9 says
“ For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.”
And we see it illustrated here on that hillside as Jesus chooses not to fill bellies on His own but rather to invite His disciples in to serve others what they received from Jesus.
This is such an important lesson for us who are followers of Jesus.
As we consider the final letter in TEND, D for do what it says, I want to bring home this lesson into our lives. For one thing, like the disciples, we cannot give out what we have not first received from Jesus ourselves.
They had to get the pieces first from Jesus then they would have something to hand out right? You and I can also not give from an empty basket so to speak.
We need time with Jesus in order to pour out on our families, neighbors, church body and whoever God puts before us. In some seasons that is really hard because we are care givers or over committed or even physically limited. But that is when we also need to evaluate what time with Jesus really looks like.
As you come here to soak in the Word with me on the podcast, so as you read the next verse in your open Bible that sits on the counter, or as you listen to Scripture read over you while on a walk, you are spending time with Jesus. Turning on worship music and turning your heart to Him is time with Him. Be gracious with yourself in the limiting seasons and recognize that time with Jesus is not going to look the same in every season of life, just like time with your husband or time with a friend doesn’t look the same every time you interact.
But we do need to see in these verses that we give to others from what we get from Jesus and we also see in these verses that we are co-laborers with God. Just as Jesus didn’t NEED the disciples, but He invited them to participate, He doesn’t need us but He invites us to participate by serving others.
So who might He be inviting you to serve today, friend? It might be the people within the walls of your home as you do chores, cook meals and pray for your loved ones. It might be serving a neighbor or a friend who is ill or a co-worker. Who are you called to serve and how can you make a step in that direction today?
Sometimes serving others begins with praying for them or with them. Sometimes it might be to encourage them with a text or write them a card. It might be prepare a meal for them or be present in a hard season with them. Ask the Lord and then let’s put feet to what he guides us to do.
I am so grateful to have had this time in the garden with you today, friend. An important part of gardening I have learned is companion planting where putting certain plants close together can help both plants grow stronger and bear more fruit. SO this time together is such a gift. But even more powerful is gathering where we can see one another and share what God is teaching each of us.
That’s why I am preparing an online summer TEND Gathering.
In our online TEND gatherings we meet weekly on zoom for 5 weeks and we get into God’s Word using the TEND method together, discussing and sharing and learning from one another. It is such a power time! I would love for you to join me!
If you want to know more and be the first to know when registration opens, CLICK HERE and sign up. You will get a free TEND guide as well as be added to the list of those who will be notified when I open registration for the summer TEND gathering.
I hope to see you there! Until next time, Keep tending your soul!
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