Use Me! – Family Devotion – August 2, 2021

Read: John 6:1-15

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
John 6:14

Use Me!

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Kyle wasn’t sure where he fit in. At school, he got cut from the basketball team, he didn’t sing well enough to join a choir, and he was too afraid to try out for the play. At home, Kyle’s sister seemed to get all the attention because of her countless dance practices and performances. At church, many of Kyle’s friends were already playing instruments for services or teaching Sunday school.

Kyle kept wondering, “Do I even matter? What skills do I have? Am I useful to anyone?”

Over time though, the Lord used Kyle’s frustrating moments to help him see his amazing gifts. He wasn’t athletic or musical, but Kyle became a key part of the school’s state champion robotics team. At home, he used his technology brain power to help set up his parents’ computers and the family’s Wi-Fi network. Kyle even got to use those gifts to help with technology at church. He was part of the team that recorded services and produced videos for thousands of people to watch and learn about Jesus online. As it turned out, God used what seemed like little gifts in Kyle to serve many, many people.

The famous story for our consideration today is very similar. The disciples were overwhelmed by the crowd of more than 5,000 people that flocked to Jesus. But Jesus had a plan in mind from the very beginning. He used the five loaves of bread and the two small fish of a young boy to feed the entire crowd. He used the disciples to organize the crowd and then distribute the food and collect the leftovers. But most importantly, Jesus used this situation as an opportunity to reveal himself as “the Prophet who was to come.” In other words, Jesus revealed his power as true God and true man—the Savior who came for all!

What gifts do you have? What do you like to do? What are some of your favorite things? God can use any of these things in our lives—even simple things like loaves of bread and fish—as opportunities for us to serve others in love. But even better, Jesus wants to use you and your gifts to reveal to others that he is the Savior. What a comfort that you matter. Your time and talents and treasures matter. Jesus loves you. Jesus saved you. And now, Jesus wants to use you so that others can know that same wonderful truth.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for revealing yourself as my Savior. Now use me and my gifts to serve you and others in thanks and love. Please use me also to help others know that you are their Savior. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What were the seven items of food that Jesus used to feed more than 5,000 people?
• How was it possible for Jesus to feed so many people with so few items of food?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why did Jesus have the disciples collect leftovers? What would they learn as they collected that extra food?
• How would you have felt if you were the boy who gave Jesus the bread and fish that day? Why?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Explain why this miracle helped the crowd (and helps us) to see that he is the Savior.
• What talents, gifts, or abilities do you have that you could use to serve the Lord right now? What about in the future?

Hymn: CW 469:1-2 – Take My Life and Let It Be

Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for thee.