Five Loaves

Good Morning,

John 6:9 (NIV)
"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

We all know this story where Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000 with "five small barley loaves and two small fish," maybe enough for three or four people. We have read and heard how He blessed this small amount of food, told the disciples to distribute what He had blessed so that everyone had plenty to eat, and then had 12 baskets of food left over. What's more, we all fully believe that He did what we read in this section of the Bible. I mean, we have no doubts at all that the Lord could and would do such a thing. I think we can all agree on that, don't you?

Now, if we can all agree on the fact that God can do so much with so little, why in the world do we doubt that He can and will do much with the little we might have available? Yes, we do doubt, of that I'm positive. We hear it all the time. "Well, my little donation can't do very much and maybe I should just try to put it to better use in my own life." People say, "I don't have that much ability to help in the congregation, so perhaps I'll just stay home and do some things around here." Others think, "There's just too much need and what I have can't make any difference."

You see, when we think and say things like that what we are REALLY saying is, "God, you know what? I don't think you can do a miracle with what I have to give. Maybe you did it a couple thousand years ago, but, well, I don't believe you're in the miracle business any more." Pretty sobering to think like that, isn't it? Yes, too many of us don't really believe...deep in our hearts and minds...that God can and will do miracles in this day and age.

But, look around sometime. Look and see what God HAS done and IS doing in so many places...and with so little. There are small congregations started up with almost nothing at all and they become hugely successful because people believed that God was there working right along side them...and God added to their increase. There are food banks begun by Christians all over that were begun with only the means of a very few people, but they gave it all up to the Lord for Him to do as He would and these food banks are now huge and feeding many, many more than just 5,000. There are outreach programs and schools and many, many other activities which were started with almost nothing...nothing but the belief that God would be there and perform a miracle for them. And with that belief and total trust in God, they have become extremely successful.

What do you have that really looks like "five small barley loaves and two small fish" that might be put to use with a miracle producing God? What can we, together, do in our small way that God can take and perform a miracle with? How can we put our little bit of talents or assets to use in such a way that God would see it and make it more than just a little bit fruitful?

The point is that we must take off all of the limitations we have put on God and let Him perform His miracles with our little bit...to make it His triumph.

We have to put our total trust and faith and belief in Him that He will do miracles even in this day and age. Remember what Paul wrote, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21) I believe that this speaks directly to what God can and will do.
Love, peace, and blessings,

David