multiplied

Do you ever feel like what you have to offer Jesus is not enough? I know I have definitely felt like that, how can whatever I have be enough for such a BIG, God?

Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." "We have here only fives loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

In the bible Jesus took 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and turned it into more than enough food for 5,000+ people. He multiplied what was given to him.  When we feel that we aren't good enough, God sees that he can use us and multiply whatever we give him: our gifts, time, money, talents. The disciples were trying to send the people off because they didn't think they had enough, but Jesus looked at that and saw more than enough. He fed everyone that was there, which was thousands, and there was still leftovers. No matter how little we think we have, Jesus wants us to offer it up to him. When we do that it gives him the ability to transform nothing into something!! Also Jesus didn't just POW put food into everyones hands. He had the disciples distribute it. We just want Jesus to work miraculously for us, and sometimes he does, but other times he wants to use us or others to display him. Jesus sees what is good in you and just like the bread and fish if we offer ourselves to him he can multiply that.

Jeremiah 30:19

For them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.

 (Check out ESV too it uses the word multiply)

This verse is talking about restoring Israel and Judah out of captivity. We may not be in literal captivity, but our hearts and our minds can be. Captivity means to be imprisoned or confined. We have all been there. Jesus restored them and said he would continue to multiply them bringing honor to them. He can do that to us too. He can take what was once imprisoning us and use that to break us free and multiply us in that area being even stronger than before. As a christian I want to decrease, so Jesus can increase in me. I want him to take my strengths and make them even bigger. I want him to take my talents and multiply them for His will. 

prayer:

Jesus, you are capable of taking anything and transforming it. We pray that you would transform our hearts and minds to be like you. Decrease our sinfulness so you can increase in us, making us all you created us to be. Multiply us and our strengths. In your name

Amen!