My Five Loaves & Two Fish

The leaves in my backyard are showing off.  They are hanging onto the trees just waiting for a gust of wind to take them away.  The color is amazing and the transition has been unspeakably remarkable.  The little young leaves of spring have grown up, aged and are dying before my very eyes.  But what a beautiful journey they have given me.

Recently, I was in a study that focused on the story of Jesus feeding the masses with only five loaves and two fish.  That day a miracle occurred when all 5000+ people were fed and 12 baskets of leftovers were collected.  As often happens, that story has been pinging around in my head this week as I struggled to understand its meaning for my life this week, today, in this minute.  Read below the passage I'm pondering.

15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18-19“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20-21They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.  The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:15-21 New International Version

The words that have jumped out to me are from verse 16.  Jesus says, "you give them something to eat".  You.  We read that the disciples said, we have nothing except "five loaves of bread and two fish".  After Jesus took all they had and blessed it...truly, it was more than enough.  Actually, it was plentiful and it satisfied, vs. 20.

Do we believe the words of the Bible are for us too?  Can these old stories that we've read perhaps dozens of times have practical life application for me and you?  I believe the answer is YES for why else would we read and study this Word if not to apply it?  Below is the message I get from this age-worn passage.

People surround us and they are hungry, they are seeking to hear more about this faith we profess.  Jesus himself is instructing me to give them something to eat.  In my human-ness I don't see anything I have that could possible meet the needs of so many people.  But what I do have....He will bless....He will use....He will multiply.  Today I want to present my meager five loaves and two fish and watch Him take it and bless it.  In the story, as they ALL ate they were satisfied.  That's me and you too.  We give what we have, He blesses and we all are satisfied.

What do you have?  What is it that you think is too insignificant to offer Him?  What is your five loaves and two fish?

The trees offer all they have.  They know no other option.  They give, He blesses and we are all satisfied.  And the cycle continues.  Let this cycle continue in me, Lord.