Belonging (S2) : WK 1 - THU
(John 6:10-13) “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.
BOOM! There it is. Jesus comes through. Hungry people are eating. Conversations are happening. An amazing moment is unfolding in front of the disciples. Philip and Andrew’s jaws are probably hitting the grass as Jesus continues to distribute fish and bread to the thousandth person, the two-thousandth person, the three-thousandth person, and on and on until every mouth was chewing and every stomach was full.
It is amazing when you get to witness with your own eyes the movement of God in your life or the lives of others. It’s indescribable and I have found it overwhelming. Now we don’t all get moments like the ones described in the passage we read today but even in the small moments, we get to see God work and it is always amazing.
As a pastor I have seen God change so many lives. Unexpected money has arrived in envelopes, cars have been gifted, marriages have been mended, sickness has been healed, attitudes have been changed, addictions have been overcome, and salvation has been offered and accepted time and time again in all kinds of circumstances and each of those moments are demonstrations of God’s love and providence.
We want to see more and more of these moments and the more we journey with God we will. These are the “twelve baskets” we get to partake in when we become disciples of Christ. What do I mean by that?
After Jesus fed the crowd, John tells us in the story that there were twelve baskets left over. In my imagination, I see each disciple carrying away a basket full of bread and fish. They didn’t just get to serve the people by distributing the food, they walked away blessed by the overflow. Because God doesn’t give, he gives abundantly which means that there is going to be enough and more. And when you become a disciple of Christ, get ready because you are going to see God work and you are going to walk away with one of those baskets.
BOOM! There it is. Jesus comes through. Hungry people are eating. Conversations are happening. An amazing moment is unfolding in front of the disciples. Philip and Andrew’s jaws are probably hitting the grass as Jesus continues to distribute fish and bread to the thousandth person, the two-thousandth person, the three-thousandth person, and on and on until every mouth was chewing and every stomach was full.
It is amazing when you get to witness with your own eyes the movement of God in your life or the lives of others. It’s indescribable and I have found it overwhelming. Now we don’t all get moments like the ones described in the passage we read today but even in the small moments, we get to see God work and it is always amazing.
As a pastor I have seen God change so many lives. Unexpected money has arrived in envelopes, cars have been gifted, marriages have been mended, sickness has been healed, attitudes have been changed, addictions have been overcome, and salvation has been offered and accepted time and time again in all kinds of circumstances and each of those moments are demonstrations of God’s love and providence.
We want to see more and more of these moments and the more we journey with God we will. These are the “twelve baskets” we get to partake in when we become disciples of Christ. What do I mean by that?
After Jesus fed the crowd, John tells us in the story that there were twelve baskets left over. In my imagination, I see each disciple carrying away a basket full of bread and fish. They didn’t just get to serve the people by distributing the food, they walked away blessed by the overflow. Because God doesn’t give, he gives abundantly which means that there is going to be enough and more. And when you become a disciple of Christ, get ready because you are going to see God work and you are going to walk away with one of those baskets.
- What miracle of God have you witnessed?
- How has God used you to serve others?
- What “basket” are you experiencing in your life right now?
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