Enough

Today's Scripture

An interesting fact about today's Gospel is that it is the only miracle that appears in the accounts of all four Gospel writers (other than the Resurrection).

There are so many layers to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Today I couldn't help but focus on how the Apostles must have felt going through this. At first the task seems impossible to even consider, and they go to Jesus for help: Dismiss the crowds! Seems like a good, reasonable plan, right? But Jesus doesn't like that plan (for reasons unannounced). He says 'feed them yourselves'. Yikes, seems like an unreasonable plan, right? But it is clear that it is what the Lord wants.

They still protest: 'two-hundred days wages worth of food?' - seems like a lot to give up and might very well be more than they have available. Even if it isn't it will surely deplete their reserves, which of course are to support Jesus' mission. It seems like they have so many good reasons to just dismiss the crowd. And then Jesus asks the question: 'what do you have?' Now it is getting real and tangible - no more supposing or estimates - what have you got? It becomes clearer that the Lord intends to have these people fed - and so He takes whatever it is that they do have, as paltry and insufficient as it is, and He multiplies it to create abundance!

How many times do we find ourselves recognizing a need and compiling all of the totally reasonable reasons why we shouldn't, why we couldn't, why we wouldn't be able to meet the need. It could be food, shelter, time to listen, a favor, a ride, some spiritual guidance. I think we have all heard lots of encouragement on many of these and probably donate time and money to them - except for that last one.

When it comes to sharing our faith, we often think: I don't have an amazing story, or I don't really know my faith that well, or I've never even read the whole Bible. What do you have? Are you willing to share it? You know for a fact that it is what the Lord wants and so He will take whatever we have, as paltry as it may be and He will multiply it to create abundance. Whenever you offer it to feed His people, whatever you have will be enough.

This message is SO IMPORTANT that every Gospel writer had to share it.