Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
January 8, 2022
Read John 6:5-13
5 Jesus looked up and saw the large crowd coming toward him. He asked Philip, “Where will we buy food to feed these people?” 6 Jesus said this to test him, for he already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip replied, “More than a half year’s salary worth of food wouldn’t be enough for each person to have even a little bit.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, 9 “A youth here has five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that for a crowd like this?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass there. They sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Then Jesus took the bread. When he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish, each getting as much as they wanted. 12 When they had plenty to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces, so that nothing will be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves that had been left over by those who had eaten.
Good Morning! In the hands of Christ, our small offerings can serve many.
Throughout our lives, especially when we are in those rough times, it is easy to find ourselves looking at what we don’t have instead of what we have. When we are being sustained with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, we wish we were eating steak.
As children, before we learn the value of tangible things like money or peanut butter, we live our lives ready to give freely to others. Some of the sweetest things are the precious gifts we receive from children. At Christmas, many families give gifts to their teachers. These gifts are always appreciated, but sometimes I receive a gift from a student that was not purchased by the parent.
I had a student who brought me a card that she had made and a gift of four tiny erasers from her collection that sat proudly on her desk. She gave me four of her treasures. You can not place a monetary value on her gift. It was priceless because it was a gift of love: The perfect love of a child.
The basket of food from the boy represents all that he has brought with him that day. In that way, he is similar to the woman who gave the two coins in the offering: all she had. We have times when we wonder whether what we can possibly give is enough to make a difference. Through Christ, our offering can meet the needs of many.
Give freely! Whatever you offer to Christ will be used to meet the needs of others.
Creator God, Thank You for loving us. Help us to forget our tendency to assign value to things. When we give of ourselves in service to You, our gift will be multiplied beyond our comprehension to touch and help others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Even humble efforts can change lives.
Give freely! Pastor Liz
Comments