Eyewitness To A Miracle

Eyewitness to a Miracle

Precious Leftovers

Read: John 6:12-14

“Could I please have a take-home box for my leftover steak?” Jan asked her server. No need to leave this good food here for the restaurant to throw away. This might be the most expensive place in town, but Jan had a reason to celebrate. After years of being lied to, verbally abused, and miserable, she had finally ended a very unhealthy relationship. Now she wondered how she could have been so blind. At least I won’t waste this food like I wasted the last four years of my life, she thought.

A woman in the crowd that Jesus fed contemplated the miracle she had just witnessed. With just two fish and a few small loaves of bread, Jesus had fed a crowd of thousands, with everyone eating as much as he or she wanted. Then the woman heard Jesus tell his disciples to gather up the leftover pieces. With a large family to feed and little money, the woman knew about being frugal. She was glad to see that these “miracle scraps” wouldn’t go to waste. After the disciples finished gathering the pieces, the woman counted twelve full baskets.

Jesus’ instruction to gather the leftovers shows that although God has limitless resources, he does not waste things. We live in an extravagant society where people routinely squander food, money, and time. Sometimes our poor choices make it seem as if we have wasted years of our lives, but when we give God control, he will see that nothing goes to waste. He can use all our bad decisions, unhealthy relationships, and times of suffering to help us grow stronger spiritually. He will equip us to help others who are going through similar circumstances. When we let God gather up our broken pieces, our worst experiences can become our greatest assets.

Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.”

John 6:12