When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” ~ John 6:12-13
Do you eat leftovers? Leftovers are some of my favorite things to eat for breakfast or lunch. I don’t like to waste food, and I usually don’t throw much away unless it goes bad.
Jesus was not wasteful. Even while He did things in abundance, He was specific in this passage to instruct His disciples to “Let nothing be wasted.”
I love this!
Not only did Jesus feed over 5000 people with a boy’s 5 barley loaves and 2 fish (in abundance), He wanted to make sure they saved any leftovers so they were not wasted!
Do you ever feel like a leftover? Have you gotten discouraged over something in life that left you feeling inferior, unloved, left out, or leftover?
Jesus loves people. He wants everyone to come to him and be saved…have eternal life in Heaven with the Father. No one is a leftover to Him. Everyone is welcome. Everyone is valued. Everyone is loved.
When I think about the story of the woman caught in adultery and how the people of the town wanted to stone her for it, Jesus simply wrote in the sand and told the one who was without sin to cast the first stone. This woman was a valuable leftover to Jesus, and He made sure she was not wasted. He did not condemn her but instead instructed her to go and sin no more.
2 Peter 3:9 tells us that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly. That includes the leftovers! We only have leftovers when there has been abundance. Have you given your life to Jesus? Are you living in the abundance He alone can provide?
And while we’re talking about leftovers from the 5 loaves and 2 fish, I think it is interesting to note that there were only leftovers from the loaves. I guess the people ate all the fish…just sayin’!!