"What are They Among So Many?"

Like the rest of the multitude that day, he had followed Jesus over the sea of Galilee. They had seen His miracles on them that were diseased and were so enthralled that they must have lost track of time for it was almost time for the passover feast. Out in the middle of nowhere, the disciples were faced with the greatest of challenges - how would they feed the people? Caught up in the excitement around him, the little lad had not eaten his lunch. When he left home that morning, he had no idea that the lunch his mother had packed for him, five barley loaves and two small fishes, would be the source for one of Jesus' miracles.

But there he was standing among the disciples and before Jesus, the only one among the multitude with anything to eat. It was not enough to satisfy a grown man, and the disciples asked the question everyone was thinking, "What are they [five barley loaves and two small fishes] among so many?" (John 6:9, KJV). John tells us that after the men had sat down as directed by Jesus, "[He] took the loaves; and when [H]e had given thanks, [H]e distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, [H]e said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten" (vv. 11-13). In the hands of the disciples the lunch was not enough. However, in Jesus' hands it was all that He needed; it was more than enough.

Have you ever felt like doing something for God but thought that what you had to offer was too small? John's narrative reminds us that it is not the size of the "lunch" that matters but the willingness to give to God what we have. If the boy had not given what he had, we would be reading a different story. Whether it is our time, talents, finances, or some other resource, God can use whatever we give Him to bring glory to Himself. The little you have may be all that is needed to trigger a miracle in your sphere of influence. What will you do with your "lunch"?