Pentecost Week Thirteen - Experiencing God’s Abundance

New Testament:  Luke 9:17
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 28:12

Friday: Experiencing God’s Abundance

How many baskets of bread were left over??? God’s provision doesn’t just meet our needs—it overflows. In His Kingdom, there is not only enough to go around but more than enough.

Historical Context:
The twelve baskets of leftovers are a detail rich with meaning. In Jewish culture, the number twelve symbolized completeness and wholeness, pointing to the twelve tribes of Israel. By providing exactly twelve baskets, Jesus was making a profound statement: God’s provision is sufficient for all His people.

This moment reminded the disciples—and us—that God’s Kingdom is one of abundance, not scarcity. It hearkened back to the promises of God in Deuteronomy 28:12, where He told Israel, “The Lord will open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands.”

The twelve baskets also served as a visual reminder for the disciples. They had doubted that five loaves and two fish could feed so many, yet they saw not only thousands fed but also an excess of provision.

Think about it -Jesus made it personal.  Each disciple held a basket, a personal testament to God’s ability to provide more than enough.

This abundance was a reflection of God’s grace that we have showered down on us every moment of every day - and probably when we sleep too!   Don't quote me on that one.

Modern Application:
God’s abundance is not meant to be hoarded but shared. The disciples didn’t keep the leftovers for themselves; they distributed them to others.

When we experience God’s blessings, we are called to pass them on, using what He has given us to serve and bless those around us.

God’s abundance in our lives may not always look like material wealth or overflowing baskets of bread, but His blessings are no less real.

His abundance often shows up in unexpected ways: peace in the midst of chaos, strength when we feel weak, or relationships that enrich our lives. Many/most of the time... we overlook these blessings because we’re focused on what we lack.

But the  the twelve baskets!  They invite us to shift our perspective—from scarcity to abundance.  If we are honest and we start counting what we lack to what we have - I thikn we all know what column fills up fastest!

Reflection 
God’s abundance is not about accumulation; it is about communion. It points us to a deeper truth: the greatest gift God gives is Himself.

The leftovers after the feeding of the five thousand are a sign of His generosity, but they also invite us to contemplate the deeper abundance of His presence.

He is the God who dwells with His people, who pours out His Spirit, and who invites us to share in His very life.  How do you even put that gift into a column!

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being a God of abundance.
Your blessings overflow in my life in ways I often overlook.
Help me to see Your provision, not just in material things but in the peace, grace, and love You pour out daily.
Teach me to trust in Your faithfulness and to use what You’ve given me to serve others.
May my life reflect the overflowing grace of Your Kingdom.
Amen.