John 6:9 It Wasn’t Sushi!
My view from “The Chair” this morning - John 6:9. I have a secret! As I read this passage over and over and over I realized something that is literally life changing and I believe we have missed over and over. Want to know what it is? It’s so simple it’s easy to miss. When this boy willingly handed his lunch to Jesus, he surrendered his rights and agenda with his ordinary lunch that was in his hands to Jesus. His thoughts went from self-absorbtion (I have food and they don’t. This is going to taste so good!) to outward focused (how Jesus was going to use my simple ordinary lunch to feed everyone). In other words, he surrendered the lunch that his mom had packed him and allowed Jesus to use it for His kingdom purposes. The bread wasn’t gourmet seed bread and the fish wasn’t delicious sushi. His lunch was “Ordinary”. It was his “normal” lunch. Yet, his act of surrendering what was in his hands changed EVERYTHING!
Satan has done a fabulous job of helping us not see the true value of what is in our hands and I believe that often, we as the church have unintentionally helped him out. Is it possible we have bought into the world’s idea of “Bigger is better” or that what we have is not enough to make an impact? So, we ask questions like, “What’s your napkin dream?” Or “What’s your God-sized idea?” These types of questions leave most believers feeling like their own skills, talents, and possessions don’t really count and they need to come up with something else that’s impressive and big. Can you imagine how differently things would’ve turned out if the disciples had asked the boy with the lunch, “What’s your napkin dream?” I bet the boy would’ve never even considered offering his ordinary lunch to them. He probably would’ve said something like, “I’d like to impact the world for Jesus by ____________ (you fill in the blank).” Things would’ve turned out VERY differently. Everyone might’ve stayed hungry or left to find food and no one would’ve heard the gospel; been saved; and healed. The surrender of that boy’s ordinary lunch changed the trajectory of many people. Maybe today, we should be asking each other, “What is in your hands? Will you surrender the ordinary things in your hands for His use?
I’ve decided - NO more “hand envy”. I’ve decided to trust that what is in my hands has been purposefully developed and placed there by my Creator for His purposes. He is not frivolous, nor careless, in how or what He has put in my hands and yours. He was extremely intentional. When you look at what others have in their hand and wish for that, you are telling God that He didn’t know what He was doing and you think you know best. He’s got plans to use your “Ordinary” to help heal this world. You and I were created to be His hands and feet to this hurting world. Will you take what is in your hands and surrender it for His purposes?
Until We Chat Again, The Plank-Eyed Girl
