The Big of Little

 

 

 

 

 

A while back, I heard Christine Caine teach about the loaves and fishes.  She taught how the ordinary and the little can be multiplied and made big.  When the child shared his lunch she thought back to the mother that prepared it for him.  The mother would have baked bread each day and place the loaves into her son’s lunch. But that day, by the sharing, the thanks giving of Jesus and the blessing, they were multiplied to serve thousands.  This lesson stayed with me and it has grown.

Sometimes, the little we do makes a big impact through Jesus.

Thousands had gathered to listen to Jesus and in time they needed food. The child had some food.  He was undaunted by the excess of need.  He just gave what he had in order to help.

John 6:9 ISV  “There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are these among so many people?"

Jesus, in thankfulness for what was given and not belittling the shortfall of enough, received the little, gave thanks to the Father for it, and blessed it.  In the simple giving from the little child, to the accepting and receiving it of even a little bit, Jesus was thankful and blessing it; He multiplied it.

I have taken this to heart. 

There is much in every little bit of little to be thankful for and to pray blessing on it.

Friends. Ministry. Food. Finances. Family. Kindnesses. Work. Creativity. Health. Home. I’m listing some things, but it is endless.  Whatever you have received no matter what its quantity is, can be a word of thanks to God for and a blessing said upon it.

Taking our eyes off of what isn’t to what is with gratitude and God’s blessing changes the heart, the mind and the soul to a place of contentment, joy and appreciation.  When that happens, it seems everything becomes enough and more than enough.  It is a place of faith for what is and Who provides.

I had finished doing some prayer ministry at the end of a church service.  It had been emptying out and I saw a frail looking elderly woman sitting in the back by herself.  I sat down beside her and introduced myself.  I asked her if she had anything she’d like prayer for.  She answered, “Oh no, I am so grateful.  I have so much to be thankful for!”  She told me how she had broken her leg and it is taking a bit of time to heal, but she is able to come to church with her cane and she is so thankful for it and touched her cane.  She continued saying she is grateful for her husband.  “He likes to sit in front and I like to sit in back.  He’s still up there.  I go to a different church, but I came here with him today.  He takes such good care of me.  He does everything for me at home.  He cooks and cleans.  We love our home.  God is so good to me and to us.”

I asked if I could pray continued blessings for her and she said, “Oh, yes!”  We prayed and gave thanks for all Jesus had given her and her husband and we prayed for His hand of blessing and grace to continue to shine on her and him.  Soon her husband was standing beside her and I told him I had the pleasure of meeting his Bride and got to pray a blessing.  He was elderly, too and had obvious physical things hampering him.  His first words to me were, “We are so thankful for all God does for us.  I’m thankful for her.” 

They saw what they had; each other.  They didn’t focus on difficulties and lack, but what was good and that those things were because of God and they were grateful.  I believe they will always see His blessings in their lives.  There will be more and more as their eyes always look to Him with thankful hearts.

In ministry, praying for one person, serving them in whatever way you have that you are able to and praying blessing for them has been multiplied so many times.  I’ve learned it isn’t the size of a congregation or church, but the serving of who you have and a blessing that Jesus takes and multiplies it through them.  One person or a few.  One should never be disappointed with a small church, a small Bible study or only one friend that comes to Jesus, but thank God for who is there and bless them. 

I’ve watched one person later begin a vast outreach as Jesus multiplies through her.  I’ve watched projects of just a few pieces be used by many and become more.  Those prayers for individuals can bear much more than you can imagine.

It is the nature of God.  Every seed yields a plant that will bear many more seeds from it.  The question of, “What do you see when you see an acorn?”  An easy answer is an oak tree, but thinking more fully to its potential, it is a forest.  That is the multiplicity of God. By one couples’ sharing of their thankfulness with me, one person, I am able to share their hearts with you.  Their lives and God's testimony in them reach out further.

Know that even if you don’t have enough to take care of everything, be thankful to Jesus for every bit of little and speak His blessing over it.  He will make more of it than you can imagine.  It is His nature.  Sometimes you find yourself doing nothing more after that, than just watching it grow.

Thank You, Jesus.