"During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.'
His disciples answered, 'But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?'
'How many loaves do you have?' Jesus asked.
'Seven,' they replied.
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were leftover. About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha."
-Mark 8:1-10 (NIV)
His disciples answered, 'But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?'
'How many loaves do you have?' Jesus asked.
'Seven,' they replied.
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were leftover. About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha."
-Mark 8:1-10 (NIV)
A young girl is with her father shopping at a "dollar store". While looking around, she finds a necklace that she knows her mother would love to wear. The girl asks her father if she can buy the necklace for her mother. The father agrees and the girl opens her small pink purse. The father asks, "What do you have in there?"
Being young and not fully aware of the value of money, the girl pulls out her coins. She asks, "Daddy, is this enough to buy the necklace for Mommy?"
The father looks down at his daughter's hand to see two quarters, all of the money from her purse. "Sure, my child, that will be just fine," he replies as he reaches into his pocket to make up the difference.
In today's Bible reading, Jesus' disciples were faced with a problem similar to the little girl that wanted to get a necklace for her mother...only on a much bigger scale! Four thousand hungry people plus the 12 "ordinary" men known as the disciples and only a little food (7 loaves and a few fishes) equals one large problem, or so it would seem! Fortunately for this hungry and weary crowd, Jesus was with them!
When the disciples asked where they were to get food to feed all of these people, Jesus asked, "What do you have?" Jesus knew what was available. He didn't expect his disciples to be able to find a solution. However, the solution did start with what the disciples had to offer - the bread and fish. Jesus used what the disciples had to perform a miracle!
Jesus responded to his disciples much like the father responded to the little girl. Jesus asked "What do you have?" When we are called by God, do we sometimes brush off the call because we feel that we lack the time, money, experience, know-how, people skills, and so on to complete the mission? Do we allow our doubts and fears to become stumbling blocks that keep us from moving forward in His plan?
We need to remember that when God calls, He is not asking us to have it all together, to be perfect, or to know everything. He is asking, "What do you have?". When we answer truthfully and put our faith and trust in Him, God will fill in what is missing, even giving us more than what we thought we needed! Just as the little girl's father reached in his pocket to give her what she needed, our Heavenly Father will give us what we need to live according to His plan and to accomplish great things for His glory.
So the next time God is asking "What do you have?", remember to answer and trust that He will give you what you need!
Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being patient with me and teaching me to trust in You. I ask that You help me to answer when You ask "What do you have?" Please give me what I need in order for me to fulfill Your plan for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Being young and not fully aware of the value of money, the girl pulls out her coins. She asks, "Daddy, is this enough to buy the necklace for Mommy?"
The father looks down at his daughter's hand to see two quarters, all of the money from her purse. "Sure, my child, that will be just fine," he replies as he reaches into his pocket to make up the difference.
In today's Bible reading, Jesus' disciples were faced with a problem similar to the little girl that wanted to get a necklace for her mother...only on a much bigger scale! Four thousand hungry people plus the 12 "ordinary" men known as the disciples and only a little food (7 loaves and a few fishes) equals one large problem, or so it would seem! Fortunately for this hungry and weary crowd, Jesus was with them!
When the disciples asked where they were to get food to feed all of these people, Jesus asked, "What do you have?" Jesus knew what was available. He didn't expect his disciples to be able to find a solution. However, the solution did start with what the disciples had to offer - the bread and fish. Jesus used what the disciples had to perform a miracle!
Jesus responded to his disciples much like the father responded to the little girl. Jesus asked "What do you have?" When we are called by God, do we sometimes brush off the call because we feel that we lack the time, money, experience, know-how, people skills, and so on to complete the mission? Do we allow our doubts and fears to become stumbling blocks that keep us from moving forward in His plan?
We need to remember that when God calls, He is not asking us to have it all together, to be perfect, or to know everything. He is asking, "What do you have?". When we answer truthfully and put our faith and trust in Him, God will fill in what is missing, even giving us more than what we thought we needed! Just as the little girl's father reached in his pocket to give her what she needed, our Heavenly Father will give us what we need to live according to His plan and to accomplish great things for His glory.
So the next time God is asking "What do you have?", remember to answer and trust that He will give you what you need!
Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being patient with me and teaching me to trust in You. I ask that You help me to answer when You ask "What do you have?" Please give me what I need in order for me to fulfill Your plan for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
RSS Feed
