More than Needed
Key Verse: Luke 9:16
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them.
Additional Reading: Luke 9:10-17
Nearly everyone has read or heard about the miracle of feeding of the five thousand. There are several lessons we can learn from this story. Many of you have heard these lessons from preachers over the years. Today’s devotion may not be profound, but I hope you find it encouraging.
The title of today’s devotion is: “More than Needed”. I want you to think about this idea when you ask Jesus to help you with a problem or a need in your life. Do you agree with me that Jesus could have multiplied the loaves of bread and the two fish so that the results fit exactly to what was needed that day?
Of course, Jesus had the power to make that happen, but He didn’t. Why?
Some might think that making the outcome fit exactly to the person would have been a greater miracle. How would you react if the scripture said that Jesus fed 5,000 men, plus their wives and children, with 5 loaves and two fish, and the disciples had the exact amount that was needed by the time they were all fed? I doubt that anyone would be any less impressed than how the story really came out!
I believe that every word Jesus said and everything He did had a Kingdom purpose for us to learn! I don’t think for one second that having twelve baskets left over was an accident. I believe God wanted all His followers to learn a lesson from this story. That is, we serve a God that gives more than we need!
The Apostle Paul confirms that in his inspired letter to the Ephesian believers: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). The dictionary says that “infinitely” means something given to an infinite extent or amount, without limit!
These twelve baskets of food leftovers make a statement to all of us who walk with Jesus. God loves to be extremely generous to all those who have Jesus in their hearts and are doing their best to follow His teachings!
I want to add one more verse to this discussion. It is found in Matthew’s Gospel: “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:11).
When I put these two verses together, I feel so encouraged. As I walk with Jesus and do my best to stay in step with His Spirit within me, I have nothing to worry about when it comes to needs in this world that I live in. I hope you can live today with that same hope and joy!
Father, thank you for your promises to me. In Jesus’s Name, amen.