The liquor store down the street from my house is kinda famous. It has produced more lottery winners than any other store in Los Angeles County, or something like that. The people who form down-the-street lines to buy lottery tickets there do so because they believe that the store is lucky. They drive from surrounding neighborhoods and cities near and far for a chance to be struck by luck...
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I'm reminded of that time Jesus and His disciples stood in front of thousands of hungry people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples needed either more food or money to buy food...
I'm reminded too of the time this same group of men (fishermen) were about to sail back home, disheartened and empty-handed (with no fish to sell for money), even though they had spent the entire night fishing...
In both cases, the disciples weren't struck by luck; they were touched by Jesus.
When the disciples listened when Jesus told them to let down their nets again, (even though it felt useless), they caught so many fish that their nets began to break and the boat began to sink.
And when the disciples took the paltry fish and loaves to Jesus, Jesus blessed it, broke it, and multiplied it so that there was enough to feed the thousands, plus left-overs for the disciples.
We live in a culture that says that more money will solve all of our problems, but Scripture reminds us that our provision - financial and otherwise - doesn't need to come through a winning lottery ticket purchased at a lucky liquor store. (Besides, most people don't win, and the few who do typically win small, while those who win big usually end up bankrupt.)
@@We must remember that we have access to the miraculous, resource-producing power of Jesus.@@ That's better than any lottery ticket.