by Jordyn van Gaalen

Filled Up to Overflow

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

Welcome to Part Two of a devotional series brought to you by Payton DeVencenty and myself. We are hoping that these back to back devotions over Mark 6 would encourage you in the process of being filled and in filling others in the name of Jesus.

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”
Mark 6:34 New International Version

After Jesus took His disciples to a place for quiet and rest, we read of the miracle of Feeding the Five Thousand. After giving His disciples time and space to rest and to refill, Jesus takes them back ashore to feed a very large crowd. He provides for the internal needs of His disciples, and then He provides for the physical needs of the crowd — beyond what they can even consume.

“But [Jesus] answered, ‘You give them something to eat.’
They said to him, ‘That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?’
‘How many loaves do you have?’ he asked. ‘Go and see.’”
Mark 6:37 NIV

God fills up our empty cups. He has given us blessings beyond our needs. He has given us provisions and gifts and talents. He provides us with rest. And then He takes us to shore to those in need. 

Like a lake overflowing into various rivers and streams, into vegetation and crops, God intends His blessings to be poured out onto others. The provisions and the love God showers on us are intended to overflow onto others.

In what way is God replying to you with, “YOU give them something to eat”?

What an applicable time in our lives to see this at work: how God fills us up with rest, with renewal, and with His agape love, and to see that flow outward to the people around us.

What an honor to be a vessel for God, to have an undeserved hand in His ministry. What a gift in itself to share what He has done in our lives and help fill the cups of those in need. I pray that we pour out the overflow of blessings and love from our heavenly Father today.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado