God's Magnifying Power.

Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

This story is a shadow of what appears in all four of the gospels. It's pretty well-known. To put you in context, Jesus was speaking to a vast crowd of thousands doing what he does best - teaching. Supper time quickly approached and it was soon evident that there wasn't enough food to feed everyone. The disciples thought that the only option was to deny some people's request for food and send them home starving. However, Jesus, who knows what's best for his people, had a different idea. He asked how much food there was. Jesus was told a couple of fish and a few pieces of bread (that doesn't sound like much at all, but you'd be amazed)!

Jesus asked everyone to sit down. He sincerely gave thanks for what they already did have from God. Miraculously, he was able to feed everyone in the crowd. No one went away starving. There were even twelve baskets of leftovers!

In the gospel, we know that the fish and bread came from a small boy. He was the one who planned for the day and packed a lunch. The boy couldn't imagine what he would have to do to feed everyone, but he gave up what he had without much thought. The point isn't that you should give up your lunch today, per say. The lesson to be learned here is that we need to give everything we have to Jesus.

Perhaps more importantly, God's work can bleed through man's greatest weaknesses and limitations. I don't even think the boy's lunch could feed one single person, but when the situation was lifted to God, it fed thousands upon thousands. Don't look at your offering to God as a measly portion. With God's awesome power, anything is possible.

I challenge you to be adventurous today. Give what you have to the kingdom of God and see what happens!

P.S. See blog post on July 10, 2010. I talked about the same passage in Ephesians. I took a different angle today.