God is a God of order. Therefore, it is no mistake that Christ followed the same distinct pattern in His "bread" ministry. Each of us, as a member of the body of Christ (i.e. a slice of the Bread of Life), have a distinct function, but our call to service isn't too much different. Let me walk you through the process of God:
1. He Took
Christ began by taking the bread. To take is to "to bring or receive into a relation or connection" or to "get into one's hand or into one's possession". Christ took. I grew up in the church. We went nearly every Sunday. To be honest though, there was no point in my adolescence that I felt like I had been "taken". There was no "relation"ship with or connection to Christ. One common theme that I saw in all of the bread passages was that Christ could not begin the process of feeding the people until He had the bread in His hand or in His possession. My God!!!
He does the same thing with us. He can't begin the process of feeding His people (using you) if He doesn't have you in his possession or in His hand. The hand in biblical times was a sign of authority. Therefore, for someone to have something in their hand was a symbol that they exercised dominion or control over that item. As vessels in the hand of the True Potter, can we really say that Christ has that dominion in all areas of our life? Even as I write this the conviction hits me because I know that to be used by God I need to be taken (i.e. give Him free reign in all areas of my life) by Christ. Lord, forgive me for selfish behavior that has not allowed You to take me and accomplish all that you have willed in my life. *Pause for Reflection*
2. He Blessed
After He took, He blessed. It is interesting to note here that the word blessed means to "endow or favor." After we have surrendered, Christ begins the process of endowing us or favoring us. In the Old Testament, the blessing of the father was highly sought after. This blessing was usually given to the older son and was performed by the laying the right hand on the head of the son. This act signified that the son would receive the inheritance of the father and was irreversible.
My God. Irreversible. That word will preach itself. Once you've surrendered and allowed him to "take" you, you receive an irreversible blessing. God's favor rests upon you and can't no devil in hell say differently.
3. He Broke
After He blessed, He broke. Hold up God. Aint this out of order? I'm supposed to be blessed going in and coming out. Blessed in the city and in the field. Blessings are supposed to flow. I don't like this word broke. To break means to "to disrupt the order of." Ut oh. Many times my life is so ordered that any break in that order causes me to panic. Why does God want to disrupt order? Why does He love to keep us uncomfortable?
Breaking has a way of testing one's character. Ask Job. Brother man lost family, land, friends, and anything else that you can lose. And the kicker...God made the suggestion!!!!!!! Yes, God asked the enemy if he had "considered His servant Job."-Job 1:8. Could it be that God is in heaven now calling your name? "Have you considered my servant your name here?" God used Job's process to break him. I can personally attest to God's breaking. It seems like the stronger I get spiritually the more opposition I get. I now believe the old adage: "NEW LEVELS, NEW DEVILS". In other words, the closer you get to your destiny, the more resistance you get. But isn't that how you develop? Physically, "resistance training" is used to strengthen our muscles, how much more can spiritual "resistance training" strengthen our spirits?
4. He Gave
After He broke, He gave. Why all the breaking in the first place? What is its purpose? I'm glad you asked. Its purpose is for you to be "give"n to someone else. Contrary to popular belief, it's not all about you and your experiences in life are not all for you. That idea may seem foreign in such a selfish generation. But the process of taking, blessing, and breaking all leads to Him "giving" YOU to others to be fed. Someone in this world needs your witness. Put your light on a lampstand and not under a basket.-Matthew 5:15. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"-Romans 10:14. We all are "preachers" (proclaimers of the Good News of Christ). There are many out there who need to hear your story of brokenness to draw on as they navigate the difficult waters of life. Full surrender to Christ involves you allowing him to give you (i.e. your testimony, gifts, and time) to others. Don't fall short of that mandate.
Take me, bless me, break me, and give me Lord. All for your service.
Blessings
