Bring It

Dear Friends,

When the alarm rang this morning, I wondered if I had the energy to turn it off. We’ve had a busy week, and a busy weekend is coming up - so getting out of bed was the last thing I wanted to do. That’s why I found myself standing in the shower saying to God, “I'm not sure what you’ve got planned for today, but don't expect much from me, cuz I don't have much to give.”

That’s why I was a little disappointed when I pulled into the parking lot of our church and found one of the folks from our congregation waiting for me in the parking lot. He’s an older gentlemen who’s suffered some difficult set-backs over the past few months, and we’ve had several opportunities to talk and pray together. So while I wasn’t surprised to find him waiting for me when I pulled in, I was disappointed because he requires a lot of time and energy. And in my tiredness, I didn’t really feel I had either item available to give.

After we exchanged greetings, my friend jumped right in by telling me that he needed me to pray with him. He had woken up this morning with a lot of fear and worry, and wanted the comfort of praying with another believer. Prayer always sounds like a good plan to me, so I put aside my weariness, and we stood in the parking lot praying. It wasn’t a very long time of praying, but when we finished, he looked visibly relieved. He gave me a hug and said, “Pastor, God really used you this morning - thank you for being here.” Then he headed home.

As I unlocked the door to the church, I was struck by how amazing it was that I had woken up tired and worn out, and yet God was still able to use me to encourage someone else. What I had to offer was so little, and yet God used it to make a difference in someone’s life. It’s something that wouldn’t have happened if I was still laying in my bed at home.

As I pondered all of that, I was reminded of Matthew 14:19, which says, “Jesus told the people to sit down on the grass. Then He 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.”

This story took place when Jesus was at the peak of His popularity, and a large crowd had gathered to hear Him teach. The problem was, when dinner time rolled around there wasn't enough food to feed everyone. As the apostles were wondering what to do, a young boy offered up his personal lunch - and in the passage we just read, Jesus took this small, insignificant offering, and multiplied it to feed over 5,000 people. So, even though this little boy didn’t have a lot to offer, it didn’t matter because he offered it to the right person. And what was insufficient and unimportant became sufficient and important when placed in the hands of Jesus.

And that’s exactly how it is with us as well. It’s not WHAT we bring - it’s WHO we bring it to, because God can do a lot with a little. So today, let’s bring what we have to Him - whether it’s our time, talent, or resources. Let’s allow God to take and bless whatever we bring to Him, and then use and even multiply it for His purposes.

Amen?

Daniel