Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 33: Today, I am grateful for enough. My devotional calls it the miracle of multiplication. When God turns what we have into "enough."
In "The Hiding Place," Corrie Ten Boom talks about some medicine they were able to sneak into the concentration camp that her sister, Betsey, needed. At one point, there they had to make the decision to hoard the small vial or share it with others. They chose to share all that they had.
God responded. The medicine vial acted like the widow woman whose flour and oil did not run out when she cared for Elijah in his time of need.
"There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah." -1 Kings 17:16
God stepped in and made it enough.
Jesus taught the miracle of multiplication in Matthew 14:14-21. He taught them how to turn what they had into enough. I was just reading about it in Jonathan Cahn's "The Book of Mysteries." It is my favorite daily devotional for those who want to understand the Jewish roots of our Christian faith.
Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.
“Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! " -Matthew 14:14-21
Here was the procedure Jesus used when they gathered the five loaves and two fish:
1. He looked up toward heaven.
2. He gave thanks.
3. The bread (and fish) was broken for the people.
4. He gave it away. Freely. As much as they wanted (even more than was needed.)
Imagine what it felt like when Jesus said, "You feed them." They looked to the Father. They gave thanks. They served those in need by breaking bread. They found joy in giving. They witnessed God's provision.
We want so much more than we need. God's provision is real. Sometimes it is just enough. Sometimes the blessing is pressed down and still overflowing. The deeper joy is found in sharing with those in need.
Today, I am grateful for enough.
