Last week our nation paused to honor the memory of September 11, 2001. As part of the remembrance, the National Geographic Channel produced a special series of interviews and reflections with people who were a part of that tragic event. I watched several of the shows, and was moved by the images and the conversations that described deep heroism and unparalleled bravery.
One of the most interesting episodes featured then New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. The mayor provided a moment by moment description of the fateful day from his vantage point, beginning with the story of where he was (a breakfast meeting) and how he first learned of the news. Giuliani relived those moments, commenting how as details became more complete, how overwhelmed he felt. Simultaneously, he spoke of the incredible weight of responsibility he sensed, largely due to his position as mayor.
You may not have had an interruption of that magnitude, but you probably can identify with how it feels to be interrupted by a significant need that demanded a response. Those needs that present themselves to us at the least of convenient times are opportunities that God provides us to be His presence in the world.
Jesus certainly did. In John 6:1-15, the Bible tells of a time when Jesus and his disciples retired to a hillside after an intensive period of meeting human need. A crowd, numbering between 5,000 and 15,000, depending on how literal you choose to take the enumeration, pressed upon Jesus and the 12 with their needs as well as high expectations.
Jesus turned to Philip and posed a simple question: “Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?” (John 6:6, HCSB). Jesus asked the question as a test, to see how Philip and his peers would respond to this interruption.
How do you respond to divine interruptions? Sometimes the need is so great we can’t help but feel inadequate to meet the need. This week I want to share somethings that I hope will help when you face those feelings of inadequacy, especially when they concern your life as a disciple of Christ.
