Catching the Power of Our 'Little'

“There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish — but what are they for so many?”
John 6:9 CSB

I’m writing today’s devotional as I sit here watching my son warm up to play in his team’s football game. He is in middle school, and I am really proud of the athlete he is. He is little, but he accomplishes a lot. Last week he asked me, “Dad, do you think I’ll make it to the NFL?” My response to him, “Son, you can do whatever you put your mind to.”  But in my mind, I had already quit on him. My immediate thought was how can he make it? All the kids that play football at this age won’t make the pros. My perspective was negative. Mainly because the world has shown me that the odds were against my son making the pros.

But I did look at the other perspective. I thought, all who play in the NFL once played at the age my son is. There was something special about those who excelled and made it. Those individuals realized their gifts. They spent their lives sharpening their skills and strengthening their talents so they could be the best at what they do.

God may bring us to a point in life and instead of us feeling that the task is too great for what 'little' we have. We must remember that He is our creator and has already given us all we need for the situation He has brought us to.  This is my job as a father; to raise my son in knowing that his gifts come from above. And although he may be good now, he has to continue to sharpen his skills to make God’s gift in him stronger.

That young man in the text came to the services that day with just his lunch. That’s all he had. But God took that gift, and through His Son, feed 5000 people. That young man’s ‘little’ became bigger than the problem.  And through that miracle everyone saw that God was in the house!

You should be excited when God puts you in the position of the miracle.  My son for example, by me telling him he can do whatever he puts his mind to, I said this knowing that it’s my job to teach him to put God first.

When he does that, he then realizes what he has in strength and talent, he received from God. Being grateful for these gifts, he will work hard to keep his skills sharp so that the Lord can use him to teach and bless the world in His own way, not my son’s and not mine.

Now my perspective is clear and positive, if it’s God’s will, it will happen. God will take the little bit my son has and make it bigger than the problems of the world. Let God do that with you. Tell the devil that God has made you bigger than any problem and watch the Lord prove that to everyone around you. Just like He did with the boy with the five loaves and two fish. 

By the way, my son caught the game winning touchdown tonight. As I pray that God Will teach him how to use his gifts for the kingdom, I equally pray God will bless others through you as you learn to use what you have from Him.

May God bless and keep you as you journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen

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