This week all of the teachers have been preparing for school to start on MONDAY (yikes) and it has truly been a blur. Every morning and evening the missionaries get together to have a worship. Lord knows we all need it.
The other day one of the missionaries shared a worship thought on Jesus feeding the 5,000. It was so beautiful that I almost choked up and felt the need to share it again in my own words.
Jesus had drawn away to a private place after some earlier events in Matthew 14. But Jesus was loved by the people and they followed him. Having the big heart that Jesus had, when he saw them, he had compassion on them, and healed the ones who were sick.
As evening was approaching, Jesus' disciples urged him to tell the people to go home. They needed to eat, and there was obviously nothing here for a crowd that big (5,000+). But again, Jesus insisted that the people stay. Maybe there was some food in the crowd. So he sent his disciples to go into the crowd and search for food.
(I'm sure they searched half-heartedly. I mean, come' on.) So they came back to Jesus with 5 loaves of bread, and 2 fish. Definitely not a buffet fit for 5,000 people. But Jesus blessed the food and began breaking bread and dividing it into baskets to feed the people.
After the disciples had gone around to distribute the food, they came back with TWELVE full baskets. LEFTOVERS. The people were FULL. Just off of 5 loaves and 2 fish. The Bible says that "They all ate and were satisfied." Matthew 14:13-21
I still can't wrap my mind around how such little food fed so many people. I'm thinking about the little food in my cupboard right now and am fighting anxiety--I need to go grocery shopping!
But seriously...this story speaks to not only God's amazing power and compassion for people, but of His ability to do amazing things, with whatever we may have.
I am starting my 3rd year of teaching and I still feel like my knowledge and efforts add up to 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Put on top of that the fact that I work in a mission school where mentors and resources are very far and in-between, and sometimes just not available. I feel like there's no way I can feed or teach 20 students this year. It would take a miracle.
Can God really do something amazing through me in my classroom and in my life with my measly efforts? My faith tells me the answer is YES. And I need to remind myself of that daily. God can do amazing things with you no matter what you have going for you. Whatever you have is more than enough for Him to work with. Single mom? He'll be by your side. Financial pinch? He'll make it stretch. Hurting heart? He has just the thing for that.
Give God your 5 loaves and 2 fish. Allow Him to bless it. Watch Him multiply what you have and satisfy your life. He can do miracles.
What will He do with your 5 loaves and 2 fish? Give it to Him, wait and see.
-Rachel
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