Intimacy With God part 3

How do we, as Christians, define our relationship with God?  As a husband, my relationship to my wife is defined by our marriage.  As a father, my relationship with my children is defined by my parenting into and through this life.  But what about our relationship with God?

Here's a little snack: Our study of John 6 has led us to the first of 3 areas of the Lord's caring for His people.  His feeding of the multitude on the Mount of Multiplication (as it is commonly referred today) allows us a generous view of how God feels about us physically.

Verse 5 says, "When Jesus then lifted up [his] eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"

Notice that the very first thought that came into the mind of divinity was for the physical welfare of God's people.  Verse 6 tells us that this question that Jesus asked was a test for His disciples... and oh what a test it was!  Perhaps the need that most perplexes man kind in the flesh is the flesh itself.  Our thoughts about our own physical well being has to rank at the top of our priority list. 

We, as humans, give more thought to food than most anything. And yet, the multitude of people had walked more than 9 miles without considering how they might find nourishment for their bodies.  Jesus saw their commitment and made a way to feed them as they had never been fed before.  What an awesome God!  When we can't think for ourselves, the omniscient One thinks for us.

These followers of Christ were not haphazardly wondering through the wilderness without thought to provision.  No doubt they had given much thought of food along the way.  However, their desire to be with the Master had overridden their need for physical sustenance.  "How could we give thought to food when the bread of life is in our very midst."  "We can eat anytime, but walking with the Master is not an opportunity that comes everyday. May we walk yet another mile."  And on they went, mile after mile, fighting one another to see who could walk in the Master's foot prints.

Perhaps, when we think of our relationship to God, we fail to recognize Him as provider for our physical needs.  This is an area of caring that ranks high for God.  Later, Jesus would teach them to give no thought to food and clothing.  This was a lesson they had learned by first hand experience as they followed they Lord.  Friend, even today, Jesus cares for us physically.  May we trust Him today to care for every area of our lives.