Christ Church Daily Devotion Dec 29 2023

In this Daily Devotion, the story of Jesus feeding the crowd with five barley loaves and two fish is discussed. The boy in the story gave Jesus what he had, and Jesus used it to bless thousands of people. The disciples, on the other hand, had more resources but didn't give anything. The lesson is that God can take what little we have and turn it into something great. Age is not a barrier to serving Jesus, and all he wants is what's in our hands. The personal worship option for today is to reflect on what God is speaking to you and whether you will give him what is in your hands. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for December 29th, 2023. Today we will be reading from John chapter 6, verses 1 through 14. Sometime after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee, that is, the Sea of Tiberias. And a great crowd of people followed him, because they saw the signs that he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite. Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? Jesus said, Have the people sit down. There was plenty of grass in that place. And they sat down. About five thousand men were there. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, Gather the pieces that are all left over. Let nothing be wasted. So they gathered them and filled baskets, twelve, with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, Surely, this is the prophet who is to come into the world. A boy gives Jesus what he has, and Jesus uses what seems like a little bit to bless thousands of people. This boy gave Jesus what was in his hands. The disciples had more resources than this child, but they limited their resources by refusing to allow Jesus to do the impossible. So they didn't give anything at all. The boy gave what little he had, and it made all the difference. If we offer nothing to God, he will have nothing to use. But God can take what little we have and turn it into something great. Age is no barrier to Jesus. Never think you are too young or too old to be of service to him. All Jesus wants is what's in your hands. Today's personal worship option. What is God speaking to you? Will you give him what is in your hands?