Sardines or Full Baskets?

by Wayne Cordeiro on November 23, 2022

Good morning! Let’s welcome Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2022. God sometimes asks for what we have because a miracle-potential is wrapped inside. However, if retained in our hands, it will be lost; in His, it becomes a reality. In between, He requires us to trust and obey, and as we do, we will see sardines turn into full baskets. Read on …

Today's Reading:

Matthew 14,15,16

Scripture

“… But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!’ And they said to Him, ‘We only have five loaves and two fish!’ And He said, ‘Bring them here to Me.’” (Matthew 14:16-18)

Observation

Kenny Rogers once sang, “You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em.” The disciples were ready to take the gambler’s advice when faced with 5,000 hungry mouths. Their parting words before folding was, “… send the multitudes away that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves” (v. 15). But that’s when Jesus challenged them to rise to the need! The disciples pushed back: “We only have a few sardines and two loaves of bread.” I’m sure they were thinking, “That’s just barely enough for the twelve of us and hopeless against 5,000 growling stomachs!”

Jesus is unrelenting. He tells them to give what they have. 

That’s the toughest kind of giving, isn’t it? It’s the widow’s mite. It’s the Samaritan paying for the wounded man’s lodging. It’s a Father giving His only Son to die for those who seem so undeserving.

Application

These kinds of sacrifices seem to contain the greatest "multiplier" factor. This kind of giving holds tremendous potential for God's glory, which is often how whole communities will be changed. It begins with small resources offered to a big God. But the challenging part is that the "small resources" are often almost all we have left. It's what we've kept in store for ourselves. But if God asks for it and we give it into His hands, a miracle can occur. The multiplier effect is enormous — and that potential is held within a sacrificial gift. When the miracle took place, not only were 5,000 "satisfied," but He then collected enough to fill the exact number of baskets to satisfy each of the disciples — 12 baskets! Instead of splitting five loaves and two sardines among them, God had a bigger plan. He didn't just provide part of a sardine but a full picnic basket! 

Prayer

Lord, this is a big lesson in faith. Please teach me Your ways that I may learn to trust and obey. 

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