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Limitations Are Invitations
Jon BurgessJesus was sent to meet our every need. Our spiritual needs first and foremost, but our physical ones as well. He sees the people in front of Him not just as numbers, but as names. He sees people to serve not problems to send away. When it comes to feeding them He asked the disciples to use what they had. Seven loaves and a few small fish fed a crowd of 4000. Where the disciples saw limitations: remote area, no money, no food, too much need, Jesus saw an invitation to partner with the Heavenly Father. Jesus talked to them about this later in verse 17: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?" Limitations are an invitation to see God's provision in a way we could never have on our own. Peter and the disciples didn't get it then, but after being filled with The Holy Spirit they saw with new eyes. When Peter and John see the lame man at The Gate Beautiful begging for money they don't respond the way they did here in Mark 8. Instead of saying, "silver and gold we don't have,so see you later bub, better luck next time", Peter says,“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6) What was it Jesus asked them in the middle of the wilderness? "What do you have?" It was just an inventory check on the food it was an invitation to partner with the divine supply of Heaven itself.
I'm seeing my limitations in a whole new light this morning. The limitation of a small house for a large family is an invitation to partner with God not only on keeping my family caring instead of killing each other but to also contend with God for a miracle house only He can provide. The limitation of no chairs in Starbucks yesterday, thanks to my friend Phil, became an opportunity to invite a complete stranger to come sit at my table. His face lit up as most often people want their space. Speaking of caring for 4000 people... The limitation of 42 parking stalls for a church of 4000 becomes an invitation to get creative in how we care for people, partner with other businesses and schools for parking and partner as a church in our giving to do something this church has never done in its 22-year existence- build permanent parking. What we do have so much more then what we don't have when realize who has us! Leveraging my limitations to see it as an invitation to partner with God and His people helps me understand why God puts my situations of impossible expectations all the time. He's not trying to torture me, He's trying to train me to see with His eyes. In the economy of the Kingdom of God every problem isn't simply a possibility for the power of God to be manifest.
I have everything I need because I have You. I have more than enough because You are more than enough for me. I repent for living out of scarcity rather than Your generosity. I repent for focusing on the insurmountable needs instead of the unstoppable God. You've already provided for every need I will ever come across. All you're waiting for this disciple to do is bring my loaves and fish and put them into Your hands so You can take my limitations and turn them into limitless possibilities.
