5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6  He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7  Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" 8  Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,  9  "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" 10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.     

There is a Chinese proverb: “Tell me and I hear; show me and I see; involve me and I understand.”

Can you imagine the difference of the impact of sitting at the feet of Jesus and then taking bread and fish and passing it out to people, when you know you started with only two fish and five loaves of bread? The work of God was being made manifested among them. The impact on the disciples would have been greater than those who just received the food.    

Learning to obey Jesus and put your faith in Jesus is more than reading a book. It takes steps to apply that faith in practical ways. There may be times when we feel as if we fail. That is part of growth.    

Jesus sees that which man does not see. Availability is what is important.  Jesus used a lad, a small boy, one who from society’s point of view is insignificant.  Jesus often used kids for illustrations of the power of God.  He has a heart for children. Young David slew Goliath. Little Samuel heard the voice of God to instruct a priest. Moses’ sister watched in the bulrushes and convinced a princess to have his own mother care for him under the protection of the law of Pharaoh.

Jesus loves children; this I know, for the Bible tells me so. It is not the size of the gift, but the size of the surrender that determines what God can do.  It is with that willing gift God can accomplish His power through us.      

So often people are overwhelmed by the size of the task and think they can do so little they might as well not even try - instead of thinking “We can’t do everything, but we can do something.”.

What good are two fish and five barley loaves of bread among so many?  It was a start and in Jesus’ hands it was enough.          

When the disciples started handling the fish and bread and knew from which it came, they stepped into a new level of faith. They understood. Their lives were never the same.

Application:  What has Jesus put in your hand that he desires to multiply. Give it to Him.  Ask Him.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to always see everything in my hands as Yours for Your kingdom work.  I look forward with anticipation what You will do with it.   

Dale.