Session 6

Your little bit matters more than you think

From The Overflowing Life: A 14-Day Devotional

Perhaps trying to be funny, Andrew suggests feeding over 5,000 people with a little boy’s lunch. Imagine his surprise when Jesus says, “have everyone sit down.”

Picture the disciples plunging their hands into the baskets to pull out fish, after fish, after fish — over and over again. Confused glances became grins. Smiles turned to laughter. Imagine their elation — pure, full, unexpected, intense, undeniable joy coursing through everyone gathered. Not only had they seen, but they had also tasted the great miracle of multiplication.

Feeding the 5,000 was a miracle of participation. Jesus could have manufactured food for the masses out of nothing. He’s the Creator. He can do that. He could’ve fed the crowd with manna or sent ravens. But He used a boy’s lunch distributed by 12 disciples.

God accomplished His purposes through people who participated. He invites us again and again into the miracle. He asks us to participate.

It’s tempting to wonder, “Does my little bit count? Does this small thing I do make a difference?” Ask yourself, “Did the little boy’s lunch make a difference?”

What we have may not look like much when compared to others, but when we put what we have in Jesus’ hands, He multiplies it. That’s who He is and what He does.

God takes our time, energy, resources, and talents and multiplies them so that others are filled. He will even take your pain, disappointment, and failure. He’ll take it, redeem it, and transform it into something beautiful that brings glory to Himself and fills the world with good.

When we surrender what we have to Jesus, we can participate in what He’s doing in the world. The result is an overwhelming, overflowing joy.

Reflect:

• Have you offered your “lunch” to the Lord?
• What do you have that God can use?
• How can you participate in what God is doing?