Leftovers

I'm perfectly alright with eating leftovers. In fact, most of the meals that we fix are things that are usually better on the second day. Beans, stews, soups, etc. I even took some garlic sausages that I BBQ'd on Father's Day and sliced them up and cooked them into an awesome omelette the following evening. You can do some pretty amazing things with leftovers.

 I ran across a short devotional thought by Dr. John Piper that involved leftovers. I thought I'd share it here today...

After Jesus had fed both the 5,000 and the 4,000 with only a few loaves and fish, the disciples got in a boat without enough bread for themselves.

When they began to discuss their plight, Jesus said, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand?" (Mark 8:17). What didn't they understand?

They did not understand the meaning of the leftovers, namely, that Jesus will take care of them when they take care of others. Jesus said:

"When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"

Understand what? The leftovers.

The leftovers were for the servers. In fact the first time there were twelve servers and twelve basketfuls left over (Mark 6:43). The second time there seven basketfuls left over—the number of abundant completeness.

What didn't they understand? That Jesus would take care of them. You can't outgive Jesus. When you spend your life for others, your needs will be met.

I love that! When we spend our lives for others, our needs will be met!