Matthew 15:29-39  After Jesus and His disciples left Tyre and Sidon they returned to the Sea of Galilee. Mark tells us that they went to the east side of the sea.. in the area of the Decapolis... again an area outside of Israel. 

As Jesus sat on the mountainside there.. people began to gather, bringing everyone they could.. "the lame, crippled, blind, dumb, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them."  For three days the multitude came and watched and "they glorified the God of Israel." 

Jesus called His disciples to attention.. "I feel compassion for the multitude.. "  Jesus wanted to give these people food before He sent them home.. and the disciples were once again unprepared.  They had 7 loaves of bread and a few fish between them.  They had to have remembered what Jesus did before with such a little bit that multiplied and fed 5000.  Would they have been surprised that Jesus would take what little they had and feed this multitude of 4000?  Would they wonder why Jesus would do these miracles for Gentiles?

Jesus gave thanks for the 7 loaves and fish.  He broke them.. He gave them to the disciples.. and the disciples gave to the multitude. "And they all ate, and were satisfied and they picked up what was leftover of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full." 

Are we thankful for the little we have?  Are we willing to give it to those who are in need of compassion? Jesus will take what we have and use it for His purposes.. whether or not we agree with what He wants to do. Are we with Him in this?  I don't know what the disciples were thinking about this.. but I wonder if they learned from that experience. Did they learn to give everything?  To be thankful for the little bit as well as the abundance? 

Father , let me learn to give .. to have compassion.. to be thankful.. and to trust You to do what You alone can do..Amen.