Red Letter Words

Matthew 15:34
"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.

As we approach the end of the Christmas season, we began to look to the new year. 2010....what will it hold in store for us? How will we enter it? Do we look to grow spiritually this next year?
In the verse I wrote above (Mt. 15:34) Jesus and his disciples have encountered a group of people who have followed them around. Jesus has been teaching them and realizes the need for these people to have food. Isn't that just like Jesus? Always concerned with people and their needs. Too bad I can't wrap my head around this thought and realize that Jesus truly does care for us. Anyway, Jesus puts the tasks of feeding the people back on his disciples. I think Jesus truly knows that the disciples do not have the capability of feeding such a crowd, nor do they have the money to purchase the needed food. But he ask his disciples a question. "How many loaves do you have?"

Bread is the common food of the day. It sustains life in and of itself with no need for anything to be added. Oh a little peanut butter or some banana's would be find. Maybe a slab of ham with some mustard. Did you catch that? I was adding to what Jesus wanted to provide. I was speaking from a place where Jesus isn't enough, I want to add something to make it better. Truth is, we need not add anything to what Jesus provides. He gives the best and the most simple to us for our own good. My own fleshly appetites get in the way and want to take over for Jesus so I can do it better and bigger.

Jesus asks the disciples, "How many loaves do you have?" They came back with the number 7. Hmmmm! Seven? The number of completion? The number of perfection? God took six days to create and then rested in completion on the seventh. SO what looks like only 7 loaves of bread (since we are in the Southern United States, we'll go with 7 biscuits), becomes the complete provision for Jesus to feed a multitude.

The feeding could not take place until the 7 loaves of bread had been brought to him. In the realm of natural understanding, this did not add up. You can't feed a multitude with only 7 loaves of bread. You're right....I can't.........but Jesus can. He told the disciples to bring to him what they possessed. Maybe that is what 2010 is about. Bringing to Jesus the things that we possess, all our talents, our strength, our finances, our intellect, our will, our passion and drive and give it to him, because we are not able to accomplish much outside of Jesus. We bring to him what we have and allow him to multiply and do so much more with it. Not a bad new years resolution....
Take it all to Jesus!

God on you.......
mb