A Lot From A Little

"...Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for Him. Turning to Philip, He asked, 'Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all of these people?' He was testing Philip, for He already knew what He was going to do. Philip replied, 'It would take a full day's wages to feed them!' Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 'There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?' 'Tell everyone to sit down,' said Jesus. So all of them - the men alone numbered five thousand - sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward, He did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. 'Now gather the leftovers,' Jesus told His disciples, 'so that nothing is wasted.' There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people didn't eat!"

(John 6:5-13, New Living Translation)

Though this boy had only a little bit of food to offer, Jesus used it and made it into a lot of food. So how does this apply to our lives?

Sometimes our lives can seem as though they are useless. Sometimes it seems like we aren't smart enough or strong enough to make our life meaningful.

But, "remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. Instead God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish...and He chose those who are powerless...God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all." (1 Corinthians 1:26-28, NLT)

God doesn't require us to be famous, a genius, a millionaire, a person that many people adore, or a person that has lived a "life of a saint." No, He only requires one thing: willingness. Willingness to give our lives, ourselves, and everything of us to Him...that's all that God wants! Once we do this, He can transform our lives. For it's not by our power, but by His mighty power.

So our lives may have little to offer, but when we give ourselves to Jesus, He works with us and within us and He makes our little life into a meaningful life. Walking with Him is the greatest and biggest thing we could ever do in our lives!

Prayer: Dear God, I know that I cannot make my life into a blessed one full of meaning by myself. But You can, Lord, and that is why I come to You. I believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ, and I accept Him into my heart and life. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness, I pray, for I am sorry for it. I give myself to You and ask You to help me to live the life that You would want me to live - one full of Your Peace, Joy, Strength, Purpose, and Holy Spirit. Thank You that I don't have to be a "brilliant person" in order for You to love me. I love You, too, Savior. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

-Eryn Eubanks (June 17th, 2003)