We are studying the miracle of Jesus' feeding the five thousand this week . . . let's dig in again!
When I was a teen, I heard this passage preached upon, and what the speaker said has stayed with me for years. He guided us to look at the miracle, and then to look past it.
Let me explain.
Jesus took a basket that a small boy had brought with him, and looked inside. He saw two fish, and five loaves of barley bread.
Surely that is not enough to feed this throng, the disciples said.
But Jesus must have smiled. He knew the potential contained in this basket. He blessed the food, and then broke it into pieces and began to hand it out. (Wouldn't it have been wonderful to receive a bit of food from our Lord's own hand? It is an awe-inspiring thought.)
The disciples took over and kept handing out bread and fish to the assembled crowd. When they were finished, over five thousand people had been fed.
That, in itself, is incredible.
Now listen to the rest of the story. Jesus told them to gather up what was left, so that nothing would go to waste.
They gathered up twelve baskets of food!
Even more incredible, right?
Now let's look past the miracle, to today.
We need to realize that when God looks at the basket of our life, he doesn't see "not enough to do the job." He sees the potential. He sees what we can do, and what we can be, with His help.
He doesn't focus on how small, or how weak, or how inexperienced we are.
He is all-powerful, and He knows what He can do through us.
There's another thing we can see here: God isn't satisfied doing "just enough." He loves to surprise us with His bounty. He enjoys showing His mercy and His grace.
He will shower us with much more than we need, much more than we ask Him for. Just like when the five thousand were fed, and twelve baskets of food were left over, He will bless us and then bless us more.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20
What an awesome God!
This passage is an inspiration to those who are insecure. We/I can use it to boost myself up when I don't feel worthy, when I don't feel I measure up to the "World's Standards" so to speak.
ReplyDeleteAnd we know that being saved by grace makes us worthy in God's eyes. That was the whole point of the crucifixion.