Does That Miracle Require an Order

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Corinthians 14:40

Christmas is in the air! Lights are decorating streets and home, and the celebrations have started. It tells us that one year is ending for another to begin, very soon. Most people, around this time, will begin to recap how the year has been – the successes, the dreams that were accomplished and the ones that will be added to the to-do list for 2023.

In am sure many of us are still trusting God for the last miracle of the year. If you are with me on this, respond with a BIG AMEN because Jesus is able!!
Jesus did many miracles in His days. One of these was feeding the five thousand men, without counting women and children. This miracle is found in Mark 6:30-44.

One of the interesting precedents leading to that miracle was how Jesus demanded order from the people who were to be blessed through this miracle. Mark 6:39-40 says:
“Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So, they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.”
 
This would not have been an easy task to be obeyed by this group of hungry people. You might have heard the saying that a ‘’hungry man is an angry man.” So why would Jesus require this?

 Let us look at three key possible reasons:

• The Order preceded the Blessings

So, they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves (verse 40-41).
Jesus knew that the solution to chaos is order. Placing resources in the hands of a group of people in a chaotic environment will cause more problems. Therefore, order was needed first before the release of the resources.
So, which areas of your life do you think God may be requiring order for the release of His next level of His blessings? Is it around finances, relationships, use of time, clarifying your vision, or family matters?

• The Order preceded the Distribution

“… gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. So, they all ate and were filled (verses 41b-42).
I am quite sure Jesus wanted to reduce the burden on the disciples, who were to serve this substantial number of people. Remember, the disciples were already exhausted from a previous mission trip (verses 30-31). Disorderliness, sometimes, if not all the time, causes us to be unnecessarily exhausted beyond the normal. When God blesses us to be a blessing to others, He does not require any unnecessary stress with it (Prov. 10:22). Creating an environment or system of order is one way to achieve this.

• The Order provided the Accountability 

And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men (verse 43-44).
When I read the Bible and see that through a miracle Jesus fed this vast number of people, plus twelve baskets full of leftovers were taken, my faith is strengthened. I am sure it is the same for you. Well, without an order, we probably would not have known how many people were fed. Order provides accountability. Accountability gives us valuable information for a testimony. And our testimony will always be our weapon for victory (Rev 12:11).
Jesus, who knows the end from the beginning, knew why He called for order before this great kingdom experience.

Conclusion
Paul also admonished “Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Corinthians 14:40. Orderliness should not be seen as a legalistic approach to life. It is at the heart of our Kingdom lifestyle. Godly order is guided by the Holy Spirit and God’s wisdom.
As we count the days before we enter a new year, you may need to consider order on your to-do list! And, if this is not for you, why not consider praying for this grace for some of the saints.
 This may be your gift to someone who is waiting for a great miracle before the end of the year.

Merry Christmas!