Feeding The 8000

We’ve all read the story how Jesus took the gift of a child’s lunch, blessed it and fed the five-thousand even providing leftovers to share. Although the food silenced thousands of growling bellies, what Jesus really was after was to feed their souls. “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 KJV

Imagine if you were one of those people that received the surplus food. You had heard about Jesus but something kept you from going out to listen to Him. Now you have been offered the tastiest leftovers you’ve ever eaten. You are determined to find out more!

Have you ever thought of where those leftover fish and loaves went? Did they feed the sick that were too weak to travel? Maybe some were given to someone with a doubt ridden mind who questioned, could Jesus be the Messiah? It’s possible there were those so heavy with sorrow that it kept them from joining the rest. Whoever they were you can be assured it impacted their life and made a difference.

Like the child’s uplifted hands gifting Jesus what He had, I too lifted my hands and offered to Him what I had, but mine were empty. In return He filled them. He gifted them with “food” feeding thousands and thousands. Like the leftovers from the world’s largest picnic, He still is in the business of providing leftovers. To date God has provided an estimated eight thousand free cards with promises of hope and peace. It makes me smile, does God have an angel that visits the printshop and tweaks the order? At times the paper selection has been wrong, other times the cropping was the slightest off—- nothing that impacted the presentation but since they weren’t exactly as ordered, they were replaced for free.

Like the story of old how Jesus’ friends took the “leftovers” and shared them, these ‘misprints’ are being shared in prisons, given to the sick, and handed to homeless people–those hungering for a better life.

I will never hear all the stories of all the “hungry bellies” they fed, but I have the assurance that God has promised to take them and make them prosper everywhere He sends them.

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stays on the ground to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my Word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” Isaiah 55: 10 & 11 NLT