Good morning to you! How often do we witness things, and let reality soak in through different stages and different moments in life? It's an AWESOME thing that the God of the universe is willing to patiently reveal Himself over and over, right where we are, to lead us forward to more of His unfathomable glory. I want more, don't you? So let's dig in.

Remember to put the leader in front! Spend some time in prayer and worship. Then... let's follow the Lord!

Today we're going to dive headfirst into an event that Simon witnessed that would continue to have great bearing on his life, and that Jesus would continue to refer to and peel away the layers of understanding with His disciples. This passage is the very heart of The 5.2 Project. If you've already studied through these concepts before, then please don't skim through... dig DEEPER. Each and every time I dig into it, the Lord continues to teach it to me! Let's follow Him together!

Please open up your Bible and read John 6:1-15. And enjoy. Every. Minute.

What an incredible story! What an incredible event! What an amazing Savior! Most of us have heard this story countless times in our lives. But there is a great truth beyond the miracle that Simon physically took part in here. There was a problem. How do I know? Check this out: Mark 6:51-52.

Have you ever stopped to think through this: Scripture tells us that our hearts are hard. God's word contains countless examples of people, of followers, of worshipers, of good and devoted people, who's hearts were hardened. It's true. It's true because we have a sin nature. It's true because by nature our minds, hearts, and emotions revolve to self before God and that's a battle we need to face. We're all hardened to something. That's not a condemnation, its just a reality. It's actually a reality to equips us for victory. So. Are you willing to dig?

Jesus gave several examples of where we might be missing the point. Check this out! Please read John 5:39-40. Sometimes we go to the Scriptures... which is GOOD. The Bible is the very word of God! It's a lamp to our feet and a light to our path! (Psalm 119:105) But it's not the path. Jesus is the way. “Come... follow ME.” He is the One that helps us to understand His word. So. They were missing the point. Is the study of God's word more important to you than the following? The worship wasn't in the doing.

Now check out John 6:1. Crowds of people gathered to see a miracle. Now again. Let's not get carried away. The miracles are GOOD things. They are gifts from the Lord, they are manifestations of His power! But. Are we more wrapped up in the miracles than in the Savior?

The worship wasn't in the circumstances.

Now please notice again John 6:15. They wanted to make Jesus a King. Why is this not worship? They saw His power, and they wanted to exalt Him and give Him... power? See there's the problem. He already was the King. Just as He was. Jesus was King. And rather than being willing to follow where HE led, how HE asked, and to dig into seeing Him as He was... they wanted to assume their own realities upon Him. But it doesn't work that way. The worship wasn't in the lofty positions and ideals of the people.

So. What was it they were missing? How does Jesus want us to follow? What does He ask for?

That's right. 5 loaves and 2 fish. The little boy in this story acknowledged all three of the components we mentioned above. He responded to the word of God and had learned it in his schooling. He came to see a miracle, to know more about Jesus. And he responded as a servant to a King. But him, the point of these things was how he could worship. How he could respond to the reality of Christ. It was the kind of worship that was honored with a miracle for all to see.

I know very often my thinking slips into any of the areas we've talked about today. I'd so often think... as a follower who loves Jesus... that if He asks for bread maybe I should run to the village and carry back thousands of pounds of food by myself. But that wouldn't be worship. That would be doing. If someone had done that, well Jesus wouldn't have done the miracle would He? It's about hearing His voice. It's about following His steps. It's about offering what He asks.

Oh. Wait. Jesus actually summed up all of these things Himself. Want to see His answer to what the disciples, and what we today are still missing?

John 6:29 Jesus replied to them, “The work of God is this: To believe on the One He has sent.”

Many people followed Him. But many of them were worshipers of circumstance. Are you a worshiper of circumstances? Or of a Savior to whom the circumstances bow?

For Discussion: Let's draw all of this closer to home. What are some practical ways that we might be missing the point? Why aren't we seeing more of our God who's already proven that He's still here, still listening, and still waiting to bless? And finally. Let's really dig in here. Ready? What is ONE. Real, tangible offering of worship you will give to the Lord today? How will you follow as a worshiper?