God Loves Leftovers!

“So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.’ Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten” (John 6:12-13).

Just days after Thanksgiving and the tasty morsels of the banquet meal begin to be the bane of meal time. Turkey has been transformed into casseroles, sandwiches, soups, and other creative dishes to disguise the fact that you are eating leftovers! After the virtual feast where so much food is prepared that you couldn’t possibly eat it all in a single day, the inevitable leftovers persist for days until finally the remains are finally either consumed or discarded. My upbringing of frugal conservatism causes me to try to save every salvageable, usable item for future use. So when it comes to leftovers we will save them in the refrigerator until they are either eaten or growing mold. Only then am I able to discard them without guilt!

I am consoled in the fact that the Bible demonstrates that Jesus also saved the leftovers! On at least two occasions Jesus miraculously fed large multitudes of people, over 5,000 in one and more than 4,000 in the other. In both settings after the people were filled, He instructed the disciples to collect the fragments—the leftovers. After the feeding of the 5,000 there were twelve baskets remaining. On the other occasion there were seven baskets of leftovers. On both occasions there was more left over than what Jesus had started with! It always seems that way after Thanksgiving when you are trying to find room to store the leftovers.

Though I’m not sure of the reasoning for collecting the fragments of the miraculous feeding (couldn’t Jesus just have taken a couple of loaves and fishes for the next miracle?), I am sure that a principle is being demonstrated. Jesus loves leftovers! There is nothing too insignificant for His attention. Not even a bird falls from the sky without His knowledge and notice. How much more does He take notice of his special creation—you and me? There is no one out of His reach and out of His care.

Demonstrated in the story of the prodigal son, the love of the father caused him to wait with longing eyes to see his son return down the lane. Empty arms waited to embrace the lost son, and a heart full of pain longed to love him again. Though lives are squandered and wasted, there is always the certain knowledge that our Father’s grace will restore one to life. He values the leftovers; whatever remains of your life He will add value to it. “Gather up the fragments,” He said, “so that nothing is lost.”

So while you eat the leftovers from your holiday meal remember that your life was once just the “leftovers” and someone loved you enough to make the fragments more than the original!