What do you have?

In my quiet time I’m reading the Gospels, paying close attention to the words of Jesus (the red letters.) I came across the story in Matthew 15:29-38, where Jesus spent 3 days healing and ministering to the crowd. This incident took place sometime after He fed a crowd of over 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, and after He’d walked on water, stilled the storm, and healed a demon possessed girl. 

Jesus had compassion on the crowd and did not want to send them away hungry. The disciples asked where they would get enough food for such a task and Jesus answered with this question: 

“How many loaves do you have?”

Then He took what they had and provided an abundance of food for everyone, 

with leftovers to spare.

He does not ask us to give what we do not have. 

He asks for what we do have, then multiplies it to make it more than enough.

A small amount of faith – in His hands is enough!

Few worldly goods – in His hands is abundance!

Limited strength – in His hands is sufficient!

He wants me to be willing for Him to use what I already have to bless others. 

It reminded me of the question God asked Moses in Exodus 4:2 when he was going to send him back to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. 

Moses had doubts but God asked him,

“What is that in your hand?” 

 God took an ordinary man (Moses) and used what he already had (a simple staff) to do the miraculous.

He turned the staff into a snake as proof to others that he had appeared to Moses.

He used the staff to bring judgment to the Egyptians,

Deliverance to the Israelites at the Red Sea,

Refreshment to the thirsty in the desert.

When we willingly submit it to him, our mighty God does miraculous things with what He has already given us.

He can use anything – bread, a staff, mud (remember the blind man, John 9:6), even a donkey (Numbers 22) to accomplish His purposes.

So, I was prompted to ask:

What do I have that HE has not given me?

What do I have that I have not given HIM?

What is in my hand?

What is in yours?