Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish—John 6:10-11.

It takes audacious faith to believe Jesus could take five paltry loaves and two measly fish and feed five thousand men, plus women and children. What seemed like a cruel joke (one loaf per thousand men), became a lesson in the Lord’s resourcefulness. He sometimes tests our hearts to see if we will obey and wait on His provision. We are quick to obsess over our limitations, while God has already applied His limitless assets. Audacious faith acts like God has already provided. 

We are wise to confess the crumbs of our creativity, but in the hands of Jesus our meager ideas can birth radical ingenuity. What do you have that the Lord can multiply a thousand times over? Influence; give it over to God to educate people of the need for foster care and orphan adoption. Money; invest in indigenous leaders who are effective in planting churches and who serve human suffering. Audacious faith believes Christ’s best; it even waits on those with imperfect obedience.

“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them” (1 John 2:5).

Audacious faith is not afraid to engage the ugliness of hunger and poverty. Is the Lord calling you to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty? It's messy to mingle with the disadvantaged and the disabled, but they starve for the love of Christ. You are the hands and feet of Jesus to those shunned by the world--left to beg, borrow and plea for help. Some elderly lie in loneliness for someone to read them the Bible or to sing about God’s love. Yes, your small efforts are enlarged by the Spirit’s influence. Your audacious faith is a catalyst to draw others to serve. 

Above all, feed on the Lord—the Bread of Life, and give His bread to other hungry souls. Audacious faith is fueled by belief in Christ’s spiritual food. Just as the human body gains energy with proper nutrition, so the saved soul gains strength by spiritual sustenance from its Savior Jesus. Faith comes alive and grows exponentially when energized by the Holy Spirit. Thus, we take our small or large trust and entrust it to the Lord. Our heavenly Father takes what we have, and grows it into what we need. Audacious faith flows from a humble and obedient heart.

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, take my inadequate resources and make them more than sufficient by the power of Your Spirit. 

Related Readings: Jeremiah 7:23; Matthew 21:21; 1 Corinthians 13:2; Ephesians 6:6