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…. And they all ate, and were satisfied.

And they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces,

twelve full baskets. 

~ Matthew 14:20

 

Good morning dear sister!

Do you like to eat toast in the morning? Or maybe your favorite bagel, smothered in cream cheese? I hate it when I open my cupboard and cannot find the bagel I was longing for…. then I remember, I never did get around to grocery shopping yesterday!

Once in a while we all have days when nothing seems to go right, you’re busy busy busy and maybe you don’t even feel like going to that midweek church meeting. But you do lug yourself out. And something wonderful happens! 

You hear the Word of God and as it settles into your spirit, you are encouraged and strengthened! As you take a few moments to consider God’s blessings in your life, all your hassles fade into unimportance. You may even feel satisfied!

This is possible because God’s basket of blessings is always full and ready to be shared with you! Jesus, surrounded by a hungry crowd, brought to life the principle that even in our own lack, if we look to God, He will provide, and provide abundantly!

As the crowd listened to the words of Jesus, their spiritual hunger was being met, but they were also getting physically hungry. The Lord met their spiritual and their physical needs! In fact, God’s blessings were overflowing and just to remind the disciples of that, they each had their own basket to pick up the leftovers!

I always thought it interesting that they each had a basket to fill. Why didn’t they leave the fragments for the birds or the beasts? Or why didn’t the people just stuff their pockets for a snack later? Perhaps they did, but God, Who is over all, had a plan! He is always willing to teach those who are willing to learn.

The spiritual significance of a basket in scripture has many meanings. Baskets represent provision and abundance, especially in regard to God’s generosity. They  symbolize His divine care. They can also represent service and humility, as shown by the disciples serving the hungry horde and humbly cleaning up after them. Each fragment left over reminded them of the overflowing abundance of God’s grace and mercy. Perhaps they wondered what it meant for them, was Jesus trying to teach them something?

I think the Lord was trying to teach them, and the generations to come as well! We can trust our Abba to provide for our needs, and He doesn’t skimp! God miraculously multiplied the little bit that was offered in His Name to feed the people seeking after Him. It wasn’t a ‘one and done’ miracle either; God did that for His servants then, He will do it now!

How about your basket? Is it empty, waiting to be filled? Or is it full, ready to share God’s abundance with others? As followers of Christ, we are clearly meant to do the works He did and more! Jesus said to His disciples, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12)

How can we do this, dear sister? Even the disciples protested that the little bit they had would never be enough! If we work to keep our basket full to feed others in our own strength, we will quickly learn just how weak we are. But if we allow God to work through us, we will be amazed at the abundance we find in our basket that is meant to minister to others!

If you look to God, your basket is always full! There is no need to go hungry spiritually or physically. And, even as God is generous and sharing with you, you are meant to reflect His glory and grace by being generous and sharing the treasures He has given you with others! 

God’s economy is such that the more you give away, the more you have! Consider those disciples, each with their own full basket, giving away, yet continually filling up with God’s abundance! What a powerful lesson!

So, my wonderful sister, as you go about your day, remember to share whatever God has put into your basket today! Don’t fret that you may not know precisely the contents! God has planned your day and placed just what you need to share when the opportunity arises. So be alert and obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit! You will find yourself refreshed even with the fragments of God’s abundance!

Keep loving Jesus and moving forward!

With love, your sister, Celeste