“Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people. And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.”  -Luke 9:16-17

Notes:

If there ever was a model for discipleship, I believe the above passage is it.  When the disciples looked upon the 5000, they obviously knew that 5 loaves and just 2 fish wouldn’t do the trick.   However, giving what they had to the Lord, Jesus then told the disciples to have everyone sit down in groups of 50.  After this, He took the 5 loaves of bread and the 2 fish, blessed it, broke it, and then continually gave it to the disciples to give to the multitude until all the people were fed.  There were even leftovers that the disciples picked up in baskets to be used later!    

After praying over this, I realized a few things of great importance in this portion of scripture.

1. When we offer everything we are to the Lord Jesus, His primary desire is to bless us, to break us, and to use us for the nourishment of others.  The origin of discipleship, and every great move of God in the hearts of people always begin with just a few devoted followers offering everything they are and everything they have to the Lord for the needs of the people.
2. Divine order precedes divine blessing. Before Jesus fed the 5000, He first ordered them to sit in groups of 50. This is a common strategy He uses in our own lives.  Many times, before we can receive a miracle from the Lord, we must align and order our lives appropriately in accordance to God’s spoken will.
3. The miracle greatly shows us the difference between our efforts and His efforts.  The Holy Spirit can do more in five seconds than we can do in five years going at full speed.  Yes, we are to work, but it is to be offered unto the Lord as a sacrifice.  It is to be coupled and joined with the work of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of serving others. 

Willing to Take the Challenge?

God is no respecter of persons.  No matter your race, ethnicity, how you grew up, or what situations you have gone through in the past, when you are willing to surrender and submit all of who you are to the Lord, He will always use you.  He will never disregard a sanctified vessel.  All of us are called to share the gospel and make disciples to obey Jesus.  Allow yourself to be available to be used by Him however He wishes.  Are we going to be the servant who buried his Lord’s treasure and did nothing with it, or are we going to be the one who multiplied it, and when the Master returned said, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?