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Day 12 John 6:1-15 John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he said unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. Have you been in the place where you didn’t know where your next meal would come from? Have you looked in your cupboards to determine what you could put together for a meal with what you had left? Many people live hand to mouth, knowing they must make their paycheck reach the next payday. Often there isn’t enough to reach the end. I’ve been there. Jesus saw the multitude, which numbered 5000 men. That number didn’t include the number of women and children. Scholars estimate there were approximately 20,000 people gathered to hear Jesus preach on the mountainside. Jesus asked Philip how much it would take to feed everyone. Philip gave him an amount, but Andrew said there was a boy with five barley loaves and two fishes. Jesus had the people sit and he fed them with the food from the boy. And gathered up twelve basketfuls of fragments. As Christians, we look at what we have without considering the fragments. We panic when the end of the pay period is close and the cupboards are almost bare. We forget what the psalmist said. Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (KJV) God promised to take care of his children. When you see little, as Philip did, five loaves and two fishes, God sees twelve basketfuls of fragments left over. Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit, and distributed the bread and fishes to everyone and they had enough. Jesus wants you to sit. He promised to provide everything you need. You only need to trust him. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (KJV) Your understanding sees what is in the cupboard. Jesus sees the leftovers, the fragments. When you take your eyes off what you have, and trust it to Jesus, he will provide everything you need and more. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for being my provider, Jehovah Jireh. Help me trust you to provide the fragments in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 13 December 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay