READ: Luke 9:10-17
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”
He replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” (About five thousand men were there.)
But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
DEVOTIONAL
The story of the feeding of the five thousand powerfully shows what Jesus can do with very little. We need to look at what we have through the eyes of our Lord. He looked at the five loaves and two fishes, and He saw enough to feed five thousand people.
When we are totally submitted to Christ and we allow Him to touch what we have with His blessings, we, too, have the potential to touch the multitudes. Whether it is our talents, resources, or life experiences, when we bring them to Christ, our “little becomes much when it is placed in the Master’s hand” (quoted from “Ordinary People” by Danniebelle Hall).
Today, may we not minimize our potential. May we bring to Christ the little we have and seek His blessings. All we need to do then is back up and watch out.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, I thank you for your power to multiply the small things. I offer up to you my abilities, even when they seem small. I pray that you would use what I offer for your Glory and the expansion of your Kingdom. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your work on the earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.