the desire of ages-第98部分

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to　the　multitude。〃　〃And　they　did　all　eat；　and　were　filled。　And　they　took　up　twelve　baskets　full　of　the　fragments；　and　of　the　fishes。〃

He　who　taught　the　people　the　way　to　secure　peace　and　happiness　was　just　as　thoughtful　of　their　temporal　necessities　as　of　their　spiritual　need。　The　people　were　weary　and　faint。　There　were　mothers　with　babes　in　their　arms；　and　little　children　clinging　to　their　skirts。　Many　had　been　standing　for　hours。　They　had　been　so　intensely　interested

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in　Christ's　words　that　they　had　not　once　thought　of　sitting　down；　and　the　crowd　was　so　great　that　there　was　danger　of　their　trampling　on　one　another。　Jesus　would　give　them　a　chance　to　rest；　and　He　bade　them　sit　down。　There　was　much　grass　in　the　place；　and　all　could　rest　in　comfort。

Christ　never　worked　a　miracle　except　to　supply　a　genuine　necessity；　and　every　miracle　was　of　a　character　to　lead　the　people　to　the　tree　of　life；　whose　leaves　are　for　the　healing　of　the　nations。　The　simple　food

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passed　round　by　the　hands　of　the　disciples　contained　a　whole　treasure　of　lessons。　It　was　humble　fare　that　had　been　provided；　the　fishes　and　barley　loaves　were　the　daily　food　of　the　fisher　folk　about　the　Sea　of　Galilee。　Christ　could　have　spread　before　the　people　a　rich　repast；　but　food　prepared　merely　for　the　gratification　of　appetite　would　have　conveyed　no　lesson　for　their　good。　Christ　taught　them　in　this　lesson　that　the　natural　provisions　of　God　for　man　had　been　perverted。　And　never　did　people　enjoy　the　luxurious　feasts　prepared　for　the　gratification　of　perverted　taste　as　this　people　enjoyed　the　rest　and　the　simple　food　which　Christ　provided　so　far　from　human　habitations。

If　men　today　were　simple　in　their　habits；　living　in　harmony　with　nature's　laws；　as　did　Adam　and　Eve　in　the　beginning；　there　would　be　an　abundant　supply　for　the　needs　of　the　human　family。　There　would　be　fewer　imaginary　wants；　and　more　opportunities　to　work　in　God's　ways。　But　selfishness　and　the　indulgence　of　unnatural　taste　have　brought　sin　and　misery　into　the　world；　from　excess　on　the　one　hand；　and　from　want　on　the　other。

Jesus　did　not　seek　to　attract　the　people　to　Him　by　gratifying　the　desire　for　luxury。　To　that　great　throng；　weary　and　hungry　after　the　long；　exciting　day；　the　simple　fare　was　an　assurance　not　only　of　His　power；　but　of　His　tender　care　for　them　in　the　common　needs　of　life。　The　Saviour　has　not　promised　His　followers　the　luxuries　of　the　world；　their　fare　may　be　plain；　and　even　scanty；　their　lot　may　be　shut　in　by　poverty；　but　His　word　is　pledged　that　their　need　shall　be　supplied；　and　He　has　promised　that　which　is　far　better　than　worldly　good；the　abiding　comfort　of　His　own　presence。

In　feeding　the　five　thousand；　Jesus　lifts　the　veil　from　the　world　of　nature；　and　reveals　the　power　that　is　constantly　exercised　for　our　good。　In　the　production　of　earth's　harvests　God　is　working　a　miracle　every　day。　Through　natural　agencies　the　same　work　is　accomplished　that　was　wrought　in　the　feeding　of　the　multitude。　Men　prepare　the　soil　and　sow　the　seed；　but　it　is　the　life　from　God　that　causes　the　seed　to　germinate。　It　is　God's　rain　and　air　and　sunshine　that　cause　it　to　put　forth；　〃first　the　blade；　then　the　ear；　after　that　the　full　corn　in　the　ear。〃　Mark　4：28。　It　is　God　who　is　every　day　feeding　millions　from　earth's　harvest　fields。　Men　are　called　upon　to　co…operate　with　God　in　the　care　of　the　grain　and　the　preparation　of　the　loaf；　and　because　of　this　they　lose　sight　of　the　divine　agency。　They　do　not　give　God　the　glory　due　unto

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His　holy　name。　The　working　of　His　power　is　ascribed　to　natural　causes　or　to　human　instrumentality。　Man　is　glorified　in　place　of　God；　and　His　gracious　gifts　are　perverted　to　selfish　uses；　and　made　a　curse　instead　of　a　blessing。　God　is　seeking　to　change　all　this。　He　desires　that　our　dull　senses　shall　be　quickened　to　discern　His　merciful　kindness　and　to　glorify　Him　for　the　working　of　His　power。　He　desires　us　to　recognize　Him　in　His　gifts；　that　they　may　be；　as　He　intended；　a　blessing　to　us。　It　was　to　accomplish　this　purpose　that　the　miracles　of　Christ　were　performed。

After　the　multitude　had　been　fed；　there　was　an　abundance　of　food　left。　But　He　who　had　all　the　resources　of　infinite　power　at　His　command　said；　〃Gather　up　the　fragments　that　remain；　that　nothing　be　lost。〃　These　words　meant　more　than　putting　the　bread　into　the　baskets。　The　lesson　was　twofold。　Nothing　is　to　be　wasted。　We　are　to　let　slip　no　temporal　advantage。　We　should　neglect　nothing　that　will　tend　to　benefit　a　human　being。　Let　everything　be　gathered　up　that　will　relieve　the　necessity　of　earth's　hungry　ones。　And　there　should　be　the　same　carefulness　in　spiritual　things。　When　the　baskets　of　fragments　were　collected；　the　people　thought　of　their　friends　at　home。　They　wanted　them　to　share　in　the　bread　that　Christ　had　blessed。　The　contents　of　the　baskets　were　distributed　among　the　eager　throng；　and　were　carried　away　into　all　the　region　round　about。　So　those　who　were　at　the　feast　were　to　give　to　others　the　bread　that　comes　down　from　heaven；　to　satisfy　the　hunger　of　the　soul。　They　were　to　repeat　what　they　had　learned　of　the　wonderful　things　of　God。　Nothing　was　to　be　lost。　Not　one　word　that　concerned　their　eternal　salvation　was　to　fall　useless　to　the　ground。

The　miracle　of　the　loaves　teaches　a　lesson　of　dependence　upon　God。　When　Christ　fed　the　five　thousand；　the　food　was　not　nigh　at　hand。　Apparently　He　had　no　means　at　His　command。　Here　He　was；　with　five　thousand　men；　besides　women　and　children；　in　the　wilderness。　He　had　not　invited　the　large　multitude　to　follow　Him；　they　came　without　invitation　or　command；　but　He　knew　that　after　they　had　listened　so　long　to　His　instruction；　they　would　feel　hungry　and　faint；　for　He　was　one　with　them　in　their　need　of　food。　They　were　far　from　home；　and　the　night　was　close　at　hand。　Many　of　them　were　without　means　to　purchase　food。　He　who　for　their　sake　had　fasted　forty　days　in　the　wilderness　would　not　suffer　them　to　return　fasting　to　their　homes。　The　providence　of　God　had　placed　Jesus　where　He　was；　and　He　depended　on　His　heavenly　Father　for　the　means　to　relieve　the　necessity。

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And　when　we　are　brought　into　strait　places；　we　are　to　depend　on　God。　We　are　to　exercise　wisdom　and　judgment　in　every　action　of　life；　that　we　may　not；　by　reckless　movements；　place　ourselves　in　trial。　We　are　not　to　plunge　into　difficulties；　neglecting　the　means　God　has　provided；　and　misusing　the　faculties　He　has　given　us。　Christ's　workers　are　to　obey　His　instructions　implicitly。　The　work　is　God's；　and　if　we　would　bless　others　His　plans　must　be　followed。　Self　cannot　be　made　a　center；　self　can　receive　no　honor。　If　we　plan　according　to　our　own　ideas；　the　Lord　will　leave　us　to　our　own　mistakes。　But　when；　after　following　His　directions；　we　are　brought　into　strait　places；　He　will　deliver　us。　We　are　not　to　give　up　in　discouragement；　but　in　every　emergency　we　are　to　seek　help　from　Him　who　has　infinite　resources　at　His　command。　Often　we　shall　be　surrounded　with　trying　circumstances；　and　then；　in　the　fullest　confidence；　we　must　depend　upon　God。　He　will　keep　every