Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

The Trust Test – Count to Eight!

Dear Friend

I love the way Dale Bruner describes the disciples when they realize Jesus has asked them to feed a huge crowd and all they have are five loaves of bread and two fish:

“The disciples think they have ‘nothing here’ except these seven items. But they are counting only the realities that impress them, not the Reality that should impress them the most. Disciples should always count to eight.”[1]

Are you in a situation right now where whatever your “seven” are, your equivalent of five loaves and two fish are simply not enough? “Lord, I have nothing but my energy, effort, grit, gumption, mind, resources and my team” and it’s – just – not - working. I have counted to seven but You invite me to count to eight – to trust you!”

“They [the disciples] said to him, ‘We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.’” Matthew 14:17-18

In whatever situation you are in, be alert to your equivalent of the five loaves and two fish, offer them to Jesus, count to eight and trust him.

As Jehoshaphat with a small community prayed when they were facing a huge army, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12b  Jehoshaphat counted to eight!

Joy to you -- E. Stanley Ott            

© Copyright 2020 E. Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

[1] Frederick Dale Bruner, The Churchbook Mathew 13-28, p. 68.

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1. The disciples were utterly intimidated with the idea of feeding a huge crowd. What are you facing in your own life that feels like having to feed 5000 people?
2. When you count the assets you bring to bear on your situation, are you counting to seven - what you have - or to eight, by including the person of Jesus.
3. If faith is like the trust of flopping in a chair and trusting it to hold you up - are you "flopping" into Jesus, trusting Jesus with your life now and in the days to come?

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