In reading the New Testament, I am always intrigued by the underlying story of mentoring and discipleship that was taking place throughout the chapters written in both the Gospels and in the letters of Paul. Seemingly small things were used to teach big lessons .
Jesus was constantly teaching his circle of close followers that small things mattered when bringing the message of God to people. Consider the following :
1. Zacchaeus was noticed up in a tree just observing Jesus in his walking and teaching, but Christ took the time to notice him. Christ also knew that Zacchaeus was feeling a bit shy because of his position in life as a tax collector, and his stature of being small. Jesus noticed this, and called Zacchaeus out of the tree he was hiding in, and invited himself over to his house for dinner. Honor in the small thing replaced the dishonor that Zacchaeus had felt about himself. Jesus took that small observation and taught his followers to see people from God’s viewpoint, and to understand the point of view people may have of themselves that is completely counter to the value that God places on them. Small was big. Zacchaeus then reacted in a big way and gave half his possessions to those less fortunate. The spirit inside himself was freed up because of the small favor of the King of Kings.(Luke 19:1-7)
2. The young boy who was observing the crowds standing close to Jesus, and noticing that they were hungry, offered his lunch to the Lord just to help. The disciples basically laughed, but the young boy was rewarded by the actions of Jesus when Christ turned his small lunch into feeding 5000 people that day. Once again, the disciples learned that small things are big. Jesus taught them not to overlook the faith of the small people in their circle, because God did not overlook such things. They learned that small things done with faith and good motive are seeds God works with to do big things. …… And the biggest thing to Christ at that moment was rewarding the faith of the child who was brave enough to believe.
3. When Jesus was at the temple, he saw the poor widow put in the very little she had into the gifts for the temple treasury, and made the vast contrast between what the rich had given and the small coins that quietly sank into the treasury plate, out of humility.
Luke 21: 1-4As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. [2] He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. [3] "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. [4] All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
The contrasts in these stories are hard to miss. Big versus small. Seemingly insignificant, brought to the front by the creator of the universe. I was challenged reading this stories in a few of ways.
1. When we feel small, and insignificant in the things we have or contribute by our talents in any setting we find ourselves in, it does not go unnoticed. God values the gifts and abilities he has given you and cherishes it when you offer the seemingly little you have to give, with faith that through Christ, it will do much.
2. When I think of the crowd putting down Zacchaeus , Jesus saw a heart of faith ready to happen. He saw through the history and public perceptions, and took notice of an individual just hoping to get a glimpse of him. We should never feel for a moment that we are insignificant to the creator of this universe. He has noticed you, and desires fellowship with you.
Revelations 3:20 says..Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.
3. And last of all, sometimes the things we think we are doing that we presume are “BIG” are really not the point of what God is trying to do. The biggest work of God is in the individual’s heart, and is accomplished as that individual sees their value and places their faith in God. This is often accomplished through a series of "small" things done faithfully over time.
Often we get trapped into thinking that God wants us to push for the big numbers in our life to impress him like the wealthy in the synagogue, or the crowd following, or the reluctant disciples who o assumed a young boy with two loaves and five fishes had the answer for the day for Jesus.
I hope this week affords you an opportunity to offer God the small contributions you have to give of time, resources, or abilities, and allow Him to show you His power to do significant things in the hearts of those around you…
God Bless
Jeff
