The Broken Leftovers

Almost everyday I eat leftovers for lunch. Whatever we had for the supper the night before makes a fine lunch the following day. In some instances the leftovers are most tasty the second time around like with vegetable soup. Many times I have enjoyed that soup for several days in a row and it gets better each time.

I am thinking of the story of the boy with the loaves and fish. You know it well. Thousands were gathered and were hungry. There was not enough money to buy food. Jesus intended to meet this need. One little boy had the equivalent of a sack lunch. He offered it to Jesus. No gift is too small.

What do you have to offer Jesus? From your perspective it may not seem very significant. Do not shortchange what Jesus can do with your offering. He can make much out of little. He can multiply a mundane gift into an extraordinary one. What do you have to offer Jesus? Is it money? Is it some talent? Is it your time? Is it your volunteering? Is it your life? No gift is too small in His hands.

We read that first Jesus blessed the offering of the fish and loaves. He dedicated them to His Father.

Next, He broke them into pieces to be distributed among the people. How could so little ever be sufficient to satisfy the hunger of so many? Before the miracle took place first, the offering had to be broken. What was true of the fish and loaves can also be true of our lives as well. We don't like the brokenness especially when our offering is our lives. Before God uses men and women He often breaks them first. It is a purification. A tearing down to build back up. This is where the miracle begins. He can do more with your life and mine when He breaks us to distribute us. He can multiply our effectiveness. Sadly far too many doubt Him and shun the broken experience.

Maybe you are in a season of brokenness. A season of pruning where it appears God has turned on you or forsaken you. Rest assured that is not the case. He most likely is just breaking your offering in preparation for a miracle. Do you believer this? Do you believe that your offering has been forgotten? Have you been deceived into thinking the brokenness in your life is a sign of God's rejection. Seasons of breaking are not pleasant. They are often very painful. Growth often happens on the other side of brokenness. New fruit blooms after the pruning. The breaking can be preparation for a miracle. I have seen this repeatedly. Where God makes beauty for ashes. Where nights of weeping turn into joy in the  morning. Where wilderness experiences lead to Elim and eventually to the promise land.

Those disciples witnessed a miracle that day. The food never ran out even though they fed thousands. Here is the best part. The leftovers. 12 baskets full. More than the little boy had given in the first place were leftover. 12 baskets full was just enough for 12 hungry disciples. Those broken leftovers served a purpose. Those 12 men doubted there would be enough food in the beginning. In hindsight they saw a miracle first hand. The broken leftovers was visible proof that Jesus did the impossible with such a small insignificant gift. Nothing is impossible with Him.

What could He do with your gift? What broken leftovers could He use to show His power and to meet the needs of people? I can picture those disciples grouping to eat their baskets staring wide eyed around them and scratching their heads. How could such a small gift produce so much for so many. They held the broken leftovers to meet their physical need. They could not explain it. They could only testify they have been part of a miracle that day.

I wonder if Jesus ate that day? If He did I wonder if He ate with the lad who offered his lunch? I am sure that little boy never forgot that day. He gave all he had to Jesus. Jesus blessed it. Broke it. Then He multiplied it. That little boy could have chosen selfishness and never offered his lunch. He could have rationally deduced that the gift was too small to make any difference. He gave all He had. Jesus did the rest. What could Jesus do if you and I did the same? If we gave all we have? He can do the same for you and me. When you and I enjoy the broken leftovers let us be quick to give glory to Jesus. He can do much with little when it is offered to Him.