GATHER UP THE FRAGMENTS

When they were filled, JESUS said unto his disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” (John 6:12)

Most of us CHRISTians know the feeding of the 5,000 with the five barley loaves and two fish, but did we take much notice that there were 12 baskets of fragments that were gathered? JESUS did not waste anything at that feast, nor does our Father-GOD allow anything in our lives to be good for nothing.

As written in Romans 8:28, “GOD causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him.” Many people, including myself, led fragmented lives before receiving CHRIST as Savior…broken bits and pieces scattered here and there--our sinful nature wreaking havoc not only in our own lives, but spattering our gunk on those closest to us. Or sometimes we encounter trials in our lives that are indeed no bed of roses, but a walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. These events sometime leave us crippled people…emotionally and mentally scarred, seemingly beyond repair. Often we’ll make this cliché a reality: “Hurt people, hurt people.”

But GOD, in His abundant mercy and infinite wisdom, will use these bits and pieces of jagged-edged life traumas to paint a multi-dimensional work of art. He will use the pitch blacks, muddy browns, moody blues and ho-hum grays, and mix them with the sunshine yellows, pretty pinks, and new-grass greens, with all the other shades and nuances of His rainbowed palette.

GOD will use all He has allowed in our lives for His Grand Design. He purposed all the Life colors before our earthly birth--that He may create that work of art that is the true child of GOD, full-orbed to do His perfect will and good purpose. GOD will pick up those fragments that remain--our remaining strongholds, whatever they may be. Through the Holy SPIRIT abiding in each genuine, born again CHRISTian, He will faithfully persevere in establishing Himself as King, making even the stubborn baggage that hangs on part of His domain.

GOD does not waste any thing. And as true children of GOD, not one of us will be lost--not one fragment of our fragmented lives will be wasted. Somehow, someway, He will cause all things to work out together for good…because of our loving devotion to CHRIST JESUS, His SON -- our LORD.