Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up towards heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. Luke 9:16
Observation
This is a very powerful story as Jesus takes what is given to him (five loaves, two fish), thanks the Father for it, and then gives it away to the disciples who then give it to the hungry people. We often are not very happy with what God has given us as we feel what we received is so little compared with what others received. Therefore, we don`t give thanks for what we have and because we think it`s so little we also don`t share it much. Result: the little we got stays little.
But Jesus shows as a different way: Give thanks for what you have received, give it to others and see what God, the giver of all things, will do!
Application
I don`t see myself as very gifted: I can`t sing, I can`t play and instrument, my Japanese is not good enough and I don`t have a Phd in theology… What do I know? What can I do? Not much with the little I got. But the example of Jesus challenged and encouraged me today: Receive with thanksgiving what God has given me and don`t be afraid or ashamed to share it with others.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for all you have given me. Help me not to look down on your gifts but to share them with others with a thankful heart. Amen.
