在圣经中，饭前祷告感恩是经常有的，可是这里记载的却不是一顿普通的饭！耶稣和他的门徒身处远离人烟的地方，以他们手头有的食物，要喂饱当前数以千计饥饿的人，实在远远供不应求。虽然他们发现一个孩童带着 “五个大麦饼和两条鱼”， 但是那里有五千男丁，还有妇女和小孩，这些食物肯定不够！
有多少时候在你的生命中，当前的需要远比你手头能应付的庞大得多呢？或许那叠有待清付的帐单，高过你支票簿现有的余额；或许照顾家庭和工作所需的智慧和耐力，超过你能应付的。现实往往是无情的。
然而，耶稣经历过我们身处的现实，而祂面对困境时的一个反应，就是停下来，感谢神。耶稣专心使用神所赐下的资源，尽管有时看起来是远远不足够的。
当我们停下来并感谢神已经赐下的资源时，我们便会记得，神是支持我们的，祂不是与我们敌对的。祝谢后，耶稣把食物源源不断地分给数以千计的人吃，我们看到神真的看顾我们。现实生活纵然无情，但感谢的心能开我们的眼目，叫我们看见耶稣丰厚的大爱。今天，你有没有为衪所赐的福气感谢衪呢？
主啊，当我们手头有的不足以供应我们的需要时，求祢帮助我们仍然感谢，并深信祢不变的爱。奉祢的名祈求，阿们。
约翰福音 6:1-13
1这事以后，耶稣渡过加利利海，就是提比哩亚海。
2有许多人因为看见他在病人身上所行的神迹，就跟随他。
3耶稣上了山，和门徒一同坐在那里。
4那时犹太人的逾越节近了。
5耶稣举目看见许多人来，就对腓力说：“我们从哪里买饼叫这些人吃呢？”（
6他说这话是要试验腓力；他自己原知道要怎样行。）
7腓力回答说：“就是二十两银子的饼，叫他们各人吃一点也是不够的。”
8有一个门徒，就是西门．彼得的兄弟安得烈，对耶稣说：
9“在这里有一个孩童，带着五个大麦饼、两条鱼，只是分给这许多人还算什么呢？”
10耶稣说：“你们叫众人坐下。”原来那地方的草多，众人就坐下，数目约有五千。
11耶稣拿起饼来，祝谢了，就分给那坐着的人；分鱼也是这样，都随着他们所要的。
12他们吃饱了，耶稣对门徒说：“把剩下的零碎收拾起来，免得有糟蹋的。”
13他们便将那五个大麦饼的零碎，就是众人吃了剩下的，收拾起来，装满了十二个篮子。
"Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish." — John 6:11
In the Bible, thanksgiving often occurs in a prayer over a meal. But this was no ordinary meal! Jesus and his disciples were out in the middle of nowhere with thousands of hungry mouths to feed. The need in front of them loomed so much larger than their available resources. They found that a boy had “five small barley loaves and two small fish.” But surely that was not sufficient for 5,000 men, plus women and children!
How often in your life do the needs in front of you loom so much larger than your available resources? Maybe the stack of bills you owe stands taller than your checkbook balance. Perhaps keeping both family and job going requires more wisdom and stamina than you possess. Reality is tough.
But Jesus entered our reality. And part of Jesus’ response to a tough situation is to stop and give thanks. Jesus lifts his attention to what God has already provided, even if that may seem insignificant.
When we stop and give thanks for what God has given, we’re reminded that God is for us, not against us. When Jesus gives thanks and then goes on to feed many thousands of people, we see that God cares about our needs. Reality’s tough, but gratitude opens our eyes to Jesus’ extravagant love. Are you grateful for his blessings today?
When our resources don’t meet our needs, Lord, help us to keep giving thanks and to trust in your unfailing love. In your name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
