Miraculous Provision: A Thanks.... Giving......Lunch You'll Never Forget

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

³⁹ Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. ⁴¹ Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² They all ate and were satisfied,  Matt. 6:38-42

Pictured is a scene from a play, where Jesus is with the disciples offering up thanks for bread and the fellowship before partaking of a meal.   The same occurred here with the little Jewish boy offering to them his lunch and before a bite is taken, or a sandwich (fish and bread.....I'm sure somebody made one) is passed out Jesus pauses to give God thanks for it, then the miracle unravels. 

No one knows exactly how this happens....how the bread and fish keep multiplying or replenishing itself as they are handing it out, but what we do know is that God blessed it, it multiplied, and they people ate until they were satisfied, full is what it stated in some translations.  But in order for the miracle to happen, you have to offer, sacrifice what you have, offer it back to God, give thanks for it....and watch God Bless.

Today is November the 1st and while we switch our minds from Halloween to our next biggest holiday: Thanksgiving...what will you be GIVING THANKS FOR and then OFFERING BACK to GOD?  I have a few suggestions:

1.  Your life:  Paul tells us to offer up our bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1).  Why?  Because when it ends, your life it is.....whom will it have benefited if you lived only for you?  You have neighbors, co-workers, family members who have yet to know and experience the love of Christ.........your life can be that living sacrifice.

2. Your Children:  In Genesis we see that Abraham loved God enough that he was willing to sacrifice his only son....now I'm not asking you to get up on a mountain and sacrifice your kid, but I am suggesting that you offer them back to God.  This is beyond child dedication....this is you showing them what REALLY is important.  We live in a day where we sacrifice our kids up for dance, band, sports activities but rarely for Youth Group or Sunday/Saturday services.   We are sooooo busy that we (if we are really good) settle for shotgun devotions on the way to practice or right before bed/dinner and that gives them community?  How is offering them up for dance, band, sports activities offering them to God....it's not.....it's offering them up to coaches and teacher who sometimes aren't godly.

3.  Your stuff:  In Acts 4:32 it says the believers claimed nothing as their own, but shared all that they had.  The little boy shared his lunch.   Is there anybody you work with, live amongst that is in need of what you have?  The reality as an American you are the rich, in the lenses of the most of rest of the world, and I'm curious how much do you share?  Time?  Talents?  Excess clothing?  Leftovers....are they taken to the office, or packed for the homeless that you see on your way to.......

I hope whatever you and thankful for and give back.....literally gives life!  You have been given today, to be thankful for..and offer back to GOD....I hope you exhaust yourself doing it, because it is then you will see the miracle He'll work through your sacrifice!  LGLP