# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S943
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

- 358 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS .

When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, |
“Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be »
lost.” Therefore they gathered them together and filled
twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley

loaves which remained over and above unto them that. ~~

had eaten.

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle
that Jesus did, said, “This is of a truth that Prophet that
should come into the world!” ,

Thoughts for Meditation

1. In the Savior’s. question addressed to Philip, “Whence
shall we buy bread?” we have an excellent instance of the way
in which God sometimes “tests” His children in order to accom-

plish His good and ‘gracious purpose. By permitting Philip to °°’

measure his limited resources against the tremendous need of the
moment, Jesus impresses Philip with the utter hopelessness of
their present “bread problem” without the Savior’s intervention.
We may be sure Philip’s appreciation of the Savior’s miracle
was the greater because of this “testing.” — In our own lives, how
often have we learned that “man’s extremity is God’s oppor-
tunityl”

2. Philip’s reply, “But what are they among so many?” is -
typically human. His arithmetic is right, but he is figuring with-
out the Savior. Many a Christian mother, as she takes stock of
the family budget at the end of the month, becomes gratefully
aware of the Savior’s multiplying hand as she balances her
columns. — “How did we go so far on so little!” — Five barley
loaves and two fishes with the Savior’s blessing are worth more
than all the riches in the world without His benediction! |

8. Jesus prayed before He broke the bread, If the Son of
heaven addressed prayers of thanks to heaven for the food He
ate, how much more should we fold our hands in prayer before ..
and after every meal. ;

4. In asking His disciples to “gather up the fragments,” the
Savior has given us an example of God-pleasing frugality and .
thrift. Nothing was to be wasted. — Are we exercising a careful,’
conscientious stewardship of the blessings He has given us?

O Lord of heaven and earth and sea,

To Thee all praise and glory be;

How shall we show our love to Thee,
Who givest all?