The story of the five loaves and two fishes always taught me to have faith that God works miracles. Never did I think there was more to that. The Lord taught me that His Word is active and living and this story spoke to me in the most awe-inspiring way.
Paul encouraged Timothy that God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). As a young boy, Timothy would have felt afraid of sharing the testimony of Christ to others who were significantly older than him. Like Timothy, I had to lead other believers who were my senior. The most recent is a Christmas musical in my church that I was in charge of. I started to write the script. I had put all of my heart into writing it and when it was brought to completion, I thought it was good. I thought my co-organizer would acknowledge my creativity and gift, but she felt it wasn’t appropriate. Though it was a constructive criticism, I was crushed. At that moment, I felt like giving up. I thought perhaps I didn’t have the gift to write the musical or even direct it. When I told God I wanted to give up, I didn’t want to do it anymore, and I didn’t want to lead, God responded. I was listening to “Five loaves and two fishes” by Corrinne May:
A little boy of thirteen was on his way to school
He heard a crowd of people laughing and he went to take a look
Thousands were listening to the stories of one man
He spoke with such wisdom, even the kids could understand
The hours passed so quickly, the day turned to night
Everyone was hungry but there was no food in sight
The boy looked in his lunchbox at the little that he had
He wasn't sure what good it'd do, there were thousands to be fed
But he saw the twinkling eyes of Jesus
The kindness in His smile
And the boy cried out
With the trust of a child
He said:
"Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all to feed them all"
I often think about that boy when I'm feeling small
And I worry that the work I do means nothing at all
But every single tear I cry is a diamond in His hands
And every door that slams in my face, I will offer up in prayer
So I'll give you every breath that I have
Oh Lord, you can work miracles
All that you need is my "Amen"
So take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
I hope it's not too small
I trust in you
I trust in you
So take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
No gift is too small
He heard a crowd of people laughing and he went to take a look
Thousands were listening to the stories of one man
He spoke with such wisdom, even the kids could understand
The hours passed so quickly, the day turned to night
Everyone was hungry but there was no food in sight
The boy looked in his lunchbox at the little that he had
He wasn't sure what good it'd do, there were thousands to be fed
But he saw the twinkling eyes of Jesus
The kindness in His smile
And the boy cried out
With the trust of a child
He said:
"Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all to feed them all"
I often think about that boy when I'm feeling small
And I worry that the work I do means nothing at all
But every single tear I cry is a diamond in His hands
And every door that slams in my face, I will offer up in prayer
So I'll give you every breath that I have
Oh Lord, you can work miracles
All that you need is my "Amen"
So take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
I hope it's not too small
I trust in you
I trust in you
So take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
No gift is too small
What more could I do? What more could I say? Tears rolled down and I said, “God, I surrender”. Overwhelmed, I responded to God and said, “Take my five loaves and two fishes, do with it as You will. I surrender. Take my fears and my inhibitions, all my burdens, my ambitions. You can use it all, to feed them all”.
“God, You knew I wanted to give up way before I started.”
Few days before, I was doing my daily devotion as usual and I read Exodus 36. The minute I began, the first verse struck me. It writes “So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded”. The Lord reminded me that He wanted me to write the article on this and that was days before. It was the time I came across Exodus 31:6, and it writes “Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you”. I wanted confirmation from God and He was gracious to give me two: one in Exodus 36 and the other in Corrinne May’s “Five loaves and two fishes”. Praise the Lord!
I tried to lead, tried to serve, tried to share. But I failed. I thought I did and I wanted to give up. And God responded. He didn’t want me to give up just because I felt that whatever I was doing for Him was insignificant. Yet He bestowed His grace upon me so bountifully. He showed me His twinkling eyes and the kindness in His smile. He said that every tear I cry is a diamond in His hands. Through the pain I had to suffer while serving Him, He was in pain too. His heart ached more than anyone else’s, for one simple reason. And that’s He loves me.
Similarly, my dearest friends, brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ, you might have stopped working for Him because of the pain you had to go through. You told Him you wanna give up. But now, He has responded. And He says, “My grace is sufficient for you”.
Will you then respond to His grace? Will you sing “Take my five loaves and two fishes, do with it as You will. I surrender. Take my fears and my inhibitions, all my burdens, my ambitions. You can use it all, to feed them all”?
God takes delight in your service in His Kingdom. Nothing is too small. Nothing you’ve done for Him is insignificant because what He desires for is your heart more than anything else. He sees your heart. He knows the pain you’ve gone through, and more pain that you’d have to go through. He wants you to surrender to Him, rely on Him while you’re serving Him. He loves you so much that He is willing to carry your burdens. He already did, when he died on the cross.
Much has been said and the decision to persevere or give up lies with you. But now, I want to challenge you with a comment of the Youtube video on ‘Five loaves and two fishes’:
“I am surprised that many people of today are reluctant to give and serve even they have the resources; whereas the young and starving boy was willing to offer all he had- his needs- to Jesus, though he know it may not really do much good...
No contribution is too small...”
It encouraged me; I hope it encouraged you too.
Dearest ones, God sees your tears. He knows exactly what you are going through. And He says, “Whatever you’ve done is precious to Me. I can work miracles and all I need is your Amen. And I want you to know that no gift is too small. And because I have given you the gift to serve Me, You shall obey my command. My grace is sufficient for you.”
Be encouraged my dears, God is always with you. He is with you even though you choose to stay away. Serve Him as He has commanded. And remember, no gift is too small.
Got it? Or, rather, done it?
