Only

Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 'There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?' 'Tell everyone to sit down,' Jesus ordered. So all of them - the men alone numbered five thousand - sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. 'Now gather the leftovers,' Jesus told his disciples, 'so that nothing is wasted.' There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat!"  John 6:8-13

 

Looking at all the other kids trying out for the basketball team, it didn't take me long to realize that the "A" team was out of the question. I was only so tall, only so fast, and could jump only so high. It didn't help that my shooting and dribbling skills were only average at best. But there was that "B" team... Well, when all was said and done, I was encouraged to take my limited skill set somewhere else. 


John records an amazing story in our verses for the day. A little boy's lunch with only enough for him wasn't going to feed the ever expanding crowd. They didn't match. The lunch didn't measure up to the mission. Jesus, undaunted, gave instructions, gave thanks and gave a feast to the whole crowd! When Jesus is around, only is never only.


An "only" worldview is a sad way to live. I'm only this or only that. I can only do ... fill in the blank. This perspective is horribly myopic. It's a complete self focus. Once the focus was transferred from the lunch to Jesus, the crowd needed a nap to sleep off their feast. Once our focus moves off of ourselves and on to Jesus, we will enter into a brand new world where giants fall and mountains move.


Grace and Peace,

 

Tom


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