OK, foot washing yesterday, and today I am talking about GIVING! Well, don’t shoot the messenger. I am just reading the Gospels and reflecting upon some of the directions for living life that I find there.

Today, I was struck by the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 in the Gospel of Matthew.  So cool!  However, there are some important lessons for us in this passage. Note first of all that there was very little given--five loaves of bread and two fish. Not much for even one person let alone 5000. However, I think the first lesson I get from this is that God will use whatever I give Him.

If you’re like me, I sometimes think that I really don’t have much to offer God. Truth is, I really don’t have much to offer God.  No, that was not a reprint. It is a truth which says: I would have nothing at all except what God in His mercy has provided. I guess the question I raise is this: who am I to determine how much enough is for God?  I mean, I did not create it in the first place; I am only entrusted with the power to use God’s resources wisely.

A second lesson is that God is in the habit of creating miracles. My problem is that I have little understanding of how miracles work. Apparently, so did the disciples of Jesus. I think we live in a society that does not expect much from God. We are self-sufficient in many ways and depending upon God is difficult because we tend to think it shows a lack of strength.

 My question is this: which action below requires more?  The ability to do it ourselves or  the trust/faith required to see and expect God to act?

So here is a challenge for today.  Trust God to do something out of the ordinary through you. Perhaps your act of courage might be an opportunity for God to perform a miracle. Now, how cool would that be!

Pastor Rip

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