Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Matthew 14:17-21 They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
JESUS GIVES
"We have only ..." the disciples said. As if to say, "How can we do what you say and give them to eat? We don't have what it takes." How often don't we think the same way. How can I possibly help someone, or do the task before me? I don't have what it takes!
Jesus' answer? "Bring what you have to me." He can make our poor attempts go much farther than we ever would have dreamed. What's more, when things turn out well, we will know for sure that it was not our efforts but His blessing that brought success!
Just like His heavenly Father, Jesus provides more than is needed, so there are leftovers. His creative power made it evident that He is the Son of God, but He did not feed the crowd just to prove that. Remember His compassion? His resurrection declared His God-head (Romans 1:4), but He helps us free from every need out of His pure, unbounded, loving compassion!
