GATHER UP THE FRAGMENTS

PRAYER JOURNAL 9/25/2018

John 6: 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”

Five Loaves and Two Fishes; it is one of the Bible stories you first heard in Sunday School and throughout the years, listened to many sermons based on this miraculous event.  But just in case it has been a while since you heard or read this passage of scripture, let me refresh your memory…

A multitude of people, 5000 men, plus women and children, surround Jesus as He teaches, heals and delivers.  Because He is Jesus, He is there to minister to all of their needs, so when He perceives that they are hungry, He says to His Disciples, “Let’s feed them.”

In typical fashion, after all the miracles they have witnessed, even brought their own friends and neighbors to Jesus with needs, the first thought of these Disciples is “Jesus, get real!  Can’t you see the crowd?  We don’t have that much money and there probably isn’t even that much bread available in this town to buy if we take up an offering.”

BUT…

A young lad, with a thoughtful Mom, comes forward with his lunch.  It is only five biscuits and a couple of pieces of fish but Jesus says, “I have a plan; I can use that.”  He blesses it and begins to hand it over to His Disciples to serve to the crowd.  They are amazed, everyone present gets fed and not just a snack but as much as they wanted; until they were full.

THEN…

Jesus makes one of the most amazing requests to His Disciples; He tells them to “gather up all the FRAGMENTS that remain, so that NOTHING IS LOST.”  Now of course Jesus cared about the earth and didn’t want to leave behind a pile of litter but I believe it goes so much deeper than Jesus being a good citizen…

WHEN WE BRING ALL THAT WE HAVE AND PLACE IT IN HIS HANDS, NOTHING IS LOST!

You have surrendered your life to Jesus and placed all into His Hands for service.  You have given Him your talents and time.  You have spent countless hours, praying, ministering, loving, singing, and preaching.  You have left family and friends, dream houses and jobs; wherever; whenever God said “GO,” you packed up and went.  Combing through memories, you realize you touched many lives…the meals you prepared, crying with the brokenhearted, rejoicing with the ones that found new life in Jesus, the countless sermons, the nights set aside to go and teach a Bible Study, practicing the songs for worship…yes, God touched many lives through you.

BUT…

Now you look around and it seems there are only fragments left; just some crumbs…Jesus isn’t finished. He is saying, “GATHER UP THE FRAGMENTS, SO THAT NOTHING IS LOST.”

When God calls you to service, even the FRAGMENTS are anointed and useful….NOTHING IS LOST!

Today, get back on your knees, GATHER UP THE FRAGMENTS, and allow God to use them.  The Bible doesn’t tell us how Jesus used the leftover crumbs after the Disciples gathered them, but I can assure you, HE HAD A PLAN.  And God has a plan for your fragments, too…they just need to be gathered and placed, once again, into His hands.

Have a blessed and fruitful day.