Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Wednesday, January 14, 2015 Based Upon 6
Special Feature
Listen to a Classic Program Based Upon Today’s Theme Chapter (With Dr. Gina Brown): http://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/where_shall_we_go
Jesus and His disciples often sailed over the Sea of Galilee; this day was no different. The disciples were in the school of Christ listening to the profound, life-giving words that He spoke, and witnessing, first hand, His miracles. Because of Jesus’ miracles, as they often did, the multitudes followed Him. Jesus understood this, yet He did not discourage them. Instead, “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (John 6:5). Jesus was getting ready to do something great.
After some interchange between Christ and two of the disciples, Jesus had them bring a young boy and his lunch to Him. “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 6:10, 11). Christ performed another miracle. A small lunch was transformed into a great feast that fed five thousand people. “When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” (John 6:12).
From this story, many lessons can be learned. One lesson is that God uses human instruments to accomplish His will on earth. Jesus could have made bread appear from nowhere, and supernaturally, before each hungry person, cause a feast to appear, but He didn’t. He chose to use a young boy, and His disciples to accomplish His will.
Another lesson to be derived from the story is that God uses people to share Himself with others. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35). The disciples amongst the waiting multitude, shared the bread.
The lesson that perhaps may go unnoticed is that God gives an abundance of what we need. The text says that there were fragments left after the multitude was completely filled. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20. “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” Romans 5:20. Whatever our need, whether it is God’s love or His grace, He gives an overabundance of it so that some will be left. The fragments should be gathered that nothing be lost.
Have you begun to experience the power of God in your life? Do you recognize the abundance? By all means, gather up the fragments, and share them with others. God has not given these precious gifts for them to be squandered. “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
