In John 6:8-9, we read: “One of the disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?’”
“The Brown Bundle Mystery,” Timmy read the title, snuggled under the covers. “Sounds exciting.” Grandfather put on his glasses and began to read.
“‘Mother,’ Jacob ran into the house. ‘A great crowd's gathered to hear the Teacher. May I go? I’ve done my chores.’
“‘Alone?’ Mother turned from her work.
“‘Rueben’s waiting for me by the gate.’
“‘Not so fast, son. Here’s your lunch. Enough to share with Rueben,’ she handed him a brown bundle.
“‘Thanks, Mother. We’d better hurry. Don’t want to miss something exciting.’
“‘Wow. What a crowd. Let’s get close to the hillside where the Teacher sits. We’ll hear better there.’ Jacob motioned to a spot, Rueben followed.
“In the late afternoon. Rueben leaned close to Jacob. ‘My stomach’s growling. Where is the lunch?’ Jacob pulled the brown bundle out, unwrapping it. “Umm. Bread and fish.”
“‘You brought food? Good.’ A big man stood behind Jacob. ‘I’m Andrew. Come. The Teacher needs you.’ The boys ran to keep up with his long strides.
“‘Why should the Teacher need us? We’re two boys with nothing to offer.’ Andrew grinned as he brought them to Jesus.
“The Teacher smiled. ‘This is all I have,’ Jacob said, as he placed the bundle in His hands. He nodded, lifted His voice, gave thanks and began to distribute the food to His disciples and the disciples to those sitting down, as much as they wanted. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.”
“Wait, Grandfather. The Teacher fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish? Big loaves?”
“No. About the size of dinner rolls. But when we give what we hold in our hands to the Teacher, He uses it and multiples it for the good of others. Little is much when blessed by the Lord, even a brown bundle.”
“Is that the mystery?” Grandfather smiled.
“Partly, but the greatest mystery? The Lord Jesus loves us and uses us in mighty ways no matter who we are, when we give our all to Him.” Timmy nodded.
Kingdom Thinking. When I keep my hands fisted, I miss out. But open, the things in my hands become gifts to Him. He multiples them for my good and His glory. He promises to love me with an everlasting love and never leave nor forsake me. He offers the same to you. Won’t you come?
“The Brown Bundle Mystery,” Timmy read the title, snuggled under the covers. “Sounds exciting.” Grandfather put on his glasses and began to read.
“‘Mother,’ Jacob ran into the house. ‘A great crowd's gathered to hear the Teacher. May I go? I’ve done my chores.’
“‘Alone?’ Mother turned from her work.
“‘Rueben’s waiting for me by the gate.’
“‘Not so fast, son. Here’s your lunch. Enough to share with Rueben,’ she handed him a brown bundle.
“‘Thanks, Mother. We’d better hurry. Don’t want to miss something exciting.’
“‘Wow. What a crowd. Let’s get close to the hillside where the Teacher sits. We’ll hear better there.’ Jacob motioned to a spot, Rueben followed.
“In the late afternoon. Rueben leaned close to Jacob. ‘My stomach’s growling. Where is the lunch?’ Jacob pulled the brown bundle out, unwrapping it. “Umm. Bread and fish.”
“‘You brought food? Good.’ A big man stood behind Jacob. ‘I’m Andrew. Come. The Teacher needs you.’ The boys ran to keep up with his long strides.
“‘Why should the Teacher need us? We’re two boys with nothing to offer.’ Andrew grinned as he brought them to Jesus.
“The Teacher smiled. ‘This is all I have,’ Jacob said, as he placed the bundle in His hands. He nodded, lifted His voice, gave thanks and began to distribute the food to His disciples and the disciples to those sitting down, as much as they wanted. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.”
“Wait, Grandfather. The Teacher fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish? Big loaves?”
“No. About the size of dinner rolls. But when we give what we hold in our hands to the Teacher, He uses it and multiples it for the good of others. Little is much when blessed by the Lord, even a brown bundle.”
“Is that the mystery?” Grandfather smiled.
“Partly, but the greatest mystery? The Lord Jesus loves us and uses us in mighty ways no matter who we are, when we give our all to Him.” Timmy nodded.
Kingdom Thinking. When I keep my hands fisted, I miss out. But open, the things in my hands become gifts to Him. He multiples them for my good and His glory. He promises to love me with an everlasting love and never leave nor forsake me. He offers the same to you. Won’t you come?