Bread & Fish

Maybe you're thinking, "I've heard this story a thousand times!"

Consider this thought about the baskets of leftovers; where were those 12 baskets before the meal?

Jesus had a great following because of the eye-opening miracles and the ear-penetrating parables He told throughout the region. It was getting late in the day and one of the disciples suggested that Jesus send the crowd away.

Wouldn't you, if you were Jesus, have wanted to say something like, "Don't you realize these people are following me because I'm like a Rock Star?!!!"

So, one of the guys brought 5 small loaves and 2 small fish; a little boy's lunch. Surely some of those in the crowd had decided to follow Jesus wherever He went that day and packed their own meal; perhaps, a picnic for the whole family. Why didn't the disciples retrieve their lunches as well?

So, where did those 12 baskets come from? Were there some selfish attendees holding tightly to their baskets? Did they not want to nominate themselves as Jesus's 'volunteer of the day?' Was personal comfort more important than risking a moment of hunger?

Aren't we a lot like the people in the crowd? We want to see the show without paying the price of admission? After all, who doesn't like free? Yet, that's exactly what Jesus calls us to do; pay the price of admission!

Choosing to freely loosen your grip on what you consider to be most valuable in life is much more rewarding than God prying it from your hands! While Christ has paid the ultimate price for our admission, He has called us to a life of sacrifice and generosity.