“One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” John 6:8–11
Thousands of hungry people surrounded Him. There wasn’t enough money to buy food for everyone, so Christ sent His disciples out to find food among the people. No one could find anything except for Andrew who found a little boy with a lunch that consisted of five loaves of bread and two fishes. This boy was willing to give his lunch to Jesus.
From Andrew’s perspective, this wasn’t very much. He had searched and found what he could in his own strength, and he offered it to Christ, not knowing what the Lord was going to do with it. He told God, “This isn’t much, but You asked for us to find food, so this is what I found. You can have it.”
Sometimes Christians can think they don’t have much to offer Christ. You may not be the most eloquent speaker, the most gifted singer, or the boldest witness, but don’t fail to see the bigger picture. It isn’t about what talent you have or what you can do alone; it’s about what God wants to do through you. God doesn’t require a certain talent; He only requires your willingness to be used by Him.
When you do your part, God will do His part. This young boy was willing to do His best for God. He gave his lunch—all that he had. But notice that a wonderful thing took place! John 6:11 says, “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” Notice the phrase “as much as they would.” Jesus kept distributing the bread until the entire crowd had been fed "as much as they would." This was a complete work, for no one was going to go home hungry.
Aren’t you glad that God delights in blessing the simple things of this life? In 1986, when my wife and I moved to Lancaster and I preached that first message to roughly twenty people in a downtown building, you would not have had to remind us that we weren’t much. We didn’t have any talent or many material possessions, but we did have faith in God and belief in His Word. And over the years we have seen that little is much when God is in it.
First Corinthians 1:27 says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” When you give your life to God, no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve been through, He will use it for His glory. You will be amazed at how God will bless and use you as His servant. All you need is faith and a willingness to serve God.
Does God have your life today? Maybe you dedicated your life to Him many years ago, but are you still living by faith in Him? It doesn’t matter what you have in the way of material possessions or special talent. All God wants from you is your all. Let God have full control of every aspect of your life. Offer what you have to Him just like the little lad did with the lunch, and remember that little is much when God is in it.
By Dr. Paul Chappell
Thousands of hungry people surrounded Him. There wasn’t enough money to buy food for everyone, so Christ sent His disciples out to find food among the people. No one could find anything except for Andrew who found a little boy with a lunch that consisted of five loaves of bread and two fishes. This boy was willing to give his lunch to Jesus.
From Andrew’s perspective, this wasn’t very much. He had searched and found what he could in his own strength, and he offered it to Christ, not knowing what the Lord was going to do with it. He told God, “This isn’t much, but You asked for us to find food, so this is what I found. You can have it.”
Sometimes Christians can think they don’t have much to offer Christ. You may not be the most eloquent speaker, the most gifted singer, or the boldest witness, but don’t fail to see the bigger picture. It isn’t about what talent you have or what you can do alone; it’s about what God wants to do through you. God doesn’t require a certain talent; He only requires your willingness to be used by Him.
When you do your part, God will do His part. This young boy was willing to do His best for God. He gave his lunch—all that he had. But notice that a wonderful thing took place! John 6:11 says, “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” Notice the phrase “as much as they would.” Jesus kept distributing the bread until the entire crowd had been fed "as much as they would." This was a complete work, for no one was going to go home hungry.
Aren’t you glad that God delights in blessing the simple things of this life? In 1986, when my wife and I moved to Lancaster and I preached that first message to roughly twenty people in a downtown building, you would not have had to remind us that we weren’t much. We didn’t have any talent or many material possessions, but we did have faith in God and belief in His Word. And over the years we have seen that little is much when God is in it.
First Corinthians 1:27 says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” When you give your life to God, no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve been through, He will use it for His glory. You will be amazed at how God will bless and use you as His servant. All you need is faith and a willingness to serve God.
Does God have your life today? Maybe you dedicated your life to Him many years ago, but are you still living by faith in Him? It doesn’t matter what you have in the way of material possessions or special talent. All God wants from you is your all. Let God have full control of every aspect of your life. Offer what you have to Him just like the little lad did with the lunch, and remember that little is much when God is in it.
By Dr. Paul Chappell
1 comment:
I am convinced that we are to think nothing of our own "gifts" such as, "Well, I am a good cook", or "I am a good writer". Are not all of them simply following instructions? The construction worker raises skyscrapers step by step. The daycare attendant carries out her work step by step. The computer programmer finishes their task step by step.
What is all of this, but obedience to a given instruction?
Obedience to God is the prize. In no thing can I look at even a second's worth of effort and say, "Ah, here is an area where I know that I can serve the Lord." A person who knows they can serve the Lord with some thing will wander the left hand until they realize they cannot serve the Lord in any thing. Every Christian at every moment has the combined ability of every profession in earth and is of equal capacity to do every task under Heaven. Such is Grace.
Post a Comment