I want to see differently. Have you ever noticed that some people can just see things that others miss? Billy Crockett wrote about his friend Rich Mullins, both amazing musicians and favorites of mine, “What I loved best about Rich were his eyes. He could see things. Any decent painter would say it isn’t about brush and texture, it’s about seeing. Here is a man who wrote an epic praise song on the color green.” I have good eyesight and am a rather curious individual. Yet, I bet that I am missing many things as I walk around each day; things hidden, like songs in the color green, and other things staring me right in the face.
I read a story about Jesus recently that has stirred my imagination and my desire to see differently. The story takes place shortly after Jesus heard the news that his cousin John was beheaded. Jesus withdrew seeking a solitary place to pray to his Heavenly Father in secret. In this case, he was followed by a significant crowd of over 5,000 people and scripture says he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As the day progressed and turned into night, the disciples encouraged Jesus to dismiss the crowd to go to surrounding villages so they could find something to eat. Jesus said to his disciples, “They need not go away, you give them something to eat.” They explained to him that they had only five loaves and two fish; insufficient supplies at best. Jesus then said, “Bring them here to me.” Jesus saw a feast among these sparse supplies. He saw a song in the color green.
I want to see like that. I am encouraged that Jesus invited his friends into this mystery, “They need not go away, you give them something to eat.” And I am encouraged that Jesus performed the miracle with what was in their hand. He didn’t create food out of nothing. He multiplied what they had.
What is it in your hand? When you’re facing an impossible situation, can you bring what is in your hand to Jesus trusting that it is enough? For Moses, it was a shepherd’s staff. With that humble staff, God performed great and mighty wonders and miracles throughout the land of Egypt and through the wandering desert of Sinai. For the widow of Zarephath in the middle of a famine and drought, it was a small jar of flour and of oil, both which were almost empty. She offered those to Elijah, the prophet of God and the supply of oil and flour never ran out. For David, it was stones and a slingshot that he used in his work as a shepherd. He offered those to God when he faced the armored warrior giant Goliath and won for Israel its mightiest battle against its fiercest enemy. All these miracles, like the feeding of the 5,000, began by offering to God the very thing that was in ones hand, however humble or ill-equipped it seemed.
Don’t despise or dismiss the thing in your hand, regardless how inconsequential or insignificant. Instead, bring it to Jesus with a heart of trust and expectation of what miracle He is waiting to do next through your humble offering.