How Many Loaves do you Have?
We have all been there: We walk to the fridge and open it only to discover we ran out of food and it’s time to go shopping again! Or we reach for an ingredient in our recipe just to realize there isn’t enough for the dish we are making for the company arriving any minute!
Jesus and His disciples were in just such a situation. Mark chapter 8 tells us how a large crowd gathered to hear Jesus teach at a remote location some distance away from any village. Some had traveled from far away, possibly even more than a day’s journey. At this point, the people had been with Jesus for three days and most of them had run out of food already. Jesus knew that even if He dismissed them now, some might be so weak that they would not be able to make the journey: “And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”
The fridge was empty. The situation was somewhat dangerous. But we know, Jesus had compassion for the people and turning to His disciples, asked them: “How many loaves do you have?” The answer was seven. Jesus took it, gave thanks, and distributed it among the disciples to give to the people to eat. Miraculously, four thousand people were fed that day!
How often have we run out of supplies, of gas, or resources to cover a basic need? Sometimes those situations were on the verge of becoming dangerous too. But it is in those moments when the Lord shows His faithfulness to us, and in creative ways, aids us out of nowhere. I highlighted in my Bible the words, “How many loaves do you have?” because I believe the answer to that question did not have much to do with the result or effectiveness of the miracle. If the disciples had said 10, 20, 5 or 3, it would have all been the same. The love of our Lord and His intention to supply all we need is not limited by what we have left; He just uses whatever it is we have left. How profound this truth is for our lives. Our natural reaction could be to withhold some of the leftovers to keep them for ourselves “just to be safe.” But it is those things we withhold that never experience the miracles of God. Instead, whatever we have can become a means to supply all our needs, if we yield them to the Lord. He does not want us to faint or to become overburdened because of our circumstances. He wants to supply us and in order to do so He asks us this question: What do you have left?
I want to encourage you this morning, if you need a miracle, or simply another encouragement. Trust what you have, as little as it may seem, to the Lord. Trust His love and faithfulness towards you and watch how He will bring resources and supplies from where we did not expect.
Jesus and His disciples were in just such a situation. Mark chapter 8 tells us how a large crowd gathered to hear Jesus teach at a remote location some distance away from any village. Some had traveled from far away, possibly even more than a day’s journey. At this point, the people had been with Jesus for three days and most of them had run out of food already. Jesus knew that even if He dismissed them now, some might be so weak that they would not be able to make the journey: “And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”
The fridge was empty. The situation was somewhat dangerous. But we know, Jesus had compassion for the people and turning to His disciples, asked them: “How many loaves do you have?” The answer was seven. Jesus took it, gave thanks, and distributed it among the disciples to give to the people to eat. Miraculously, four thousand people were fed that day!
How often have we run out of supplies, of gas, or resources to cover a basic need? Sometimes those situations were on the verge of becoming dangerous too. But it is in those moments when the Lord shows His faithfulness to us, and in creative ways, aids us out of nowhere. I highlighted in my Bible the words, “How many loaves do you have?” because I believe the answer to that question did not have much to do with the result or effectiveness of the miracle. If the disciples had said 10, 20, 5 or 3, it would have all been the same. The love of our Lord and His intention to supply all we need is not limited by what we have left; He just uses whatever it is we have left. How profound this truth is for our lives. Our natural reaction could be to withhold some of the leftovers to keep them for ourselves “just to be safe.” But it is those things we withhold that never experience the miracles of God. Instead, whatever we have can become a means to supply all our needs, if we yield them to the Lord. He does not want us to faint or to become overburdened because of our circumstances. He wants to supply us and in order to do so He asks us this question: What do you have left?
I want to encourage you this morning, if you need a miracle, or simply another encouragement. Trust what you have, as little as it may seem, to the Lord. Trust His love and faithfulness towards you and watch how He will bring resources and supplies from where we did not expect.
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The little I have is big in the hands of God, all I have to do is offer it.
nThank you Pastor.
Great word for us -surrender all and trust God to provide, His resources are unending.
nThanks Pastor!