Devotionals for the Heart: When Jesus Christ fed thousands with one meal

When Jesus Did a Miracle with Fishes and Loaves
A devotional by Hannah Benson

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”—John 6:9 (ESV)

Sometimes, like this little boy mentioned in the Bible verse above, we might feel like we don’t have much to offer Jesus Christ.

We may look at our life, what we have in our hands, and think that it doesn’t look like enough for God’s purposes. Maybe, as we look around and compare ourselves to other people, we think that we need more. More knowledge, more experience, more of anything to be used by God or to make a difference in His Kingdom.

I struggle with this frequently. I think: “Is my calling worthy enough?” and “Will it please God?”

Dear friend, we are worthy because God is worthy. We are not saved because of anything we could ever do but because of Who He is. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV).

God has callings for each of us. He has placed us in our specific families, neighborhoods, and countries on purpose. Indeed, He has also placed specific people in our life for a reason.

But more than anything we could do for God, He wants us to cultivate a relationship with Him first and foremost, and second, cultivate a relationship with the people He’s placed around us. In Him, we are enough because He is enough. Remember this verse: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6 ESV).

Remember the little boy I mentioned in the beginning of this devotional?

I wish I could’ve been there to watch this scene unfold. What might he have been thinking when he offered his measly meal of five loaves and two fish to the Son of God? Perhaps he stepped forward with a humble heart, fully trusting Jesus could work a miracle with his little offering. Or maybe his heart stuttered and sank when he saw the thousands of hungry faces around him. After all, it seemed it wouldn’t be enough for even a portion of the large and hungry crowd to leave satisfied. But regardless of what he felt, filled with faith or fear, the little boy chose to give Jesus the food he had. It wasn’t much, but it was more than enough for Jesus to multiply.

How many times do we refrain from offering God what we have because it doesn’t seem like enough? Or how many times do we look at our circumstances and think that God can’t multiply our minimal? Now, this is not an excuse to give God less than our best. But what about when our best doesn’t feel good enough?

Dear friend, God isn’t waiting for us to have “enough” before we offer Him what we have. Instead, He wants us to offer Him what we have and watch Him multiply the fish and loaves.

Let’s Pray:
Dear Father God, I often look at what I have to offer You and feel so unworthy. But I know You don’t care about anything I could offer You but my heart. Lord, I give You my heart and trust You to use it for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Fishes and Loaves” by Josiah Queen. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Hannah Benson is a Jesus-follower who’s passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others. 

From the time she could hold a pen, she was writing. But it wasn’t until she was sixteen that she began to follow God’s calling to pursue writing seriously. Hannah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). In addition to fiction, she also writes devotionals and has been published on other websites. Her prayer is that her readers leave deeply encouraged and more in love with Jesus.

When not writing, Hannah also enjoys being involved with local theater companies, with a primary focus on Biblical theater. She wants to show the love of Jesus through the creative arts.

You can read more of Hannah’s writings on her blog or on her Instagram where she strives to write content that leaves others feeling encouraged.

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Connect with Hannah:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Hannah-Lynn-Writer/100073790792576/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahlbensonwrites/