I Missed The Point

...he gave them to his disciples to set before the people.  Mark 6: 41

I was flipping through the Gospels the other day and I landed on the story of the loaves and fishes.  I’ve heard the story dozens of times so I asked God to give me a new perspective on an old story. He didn’t disappoint me…as always!  As I sat and pondered the words I began to think about how much I enjoy baking bread.  It makes me feel so productive and it brings a wonderful smell to the kitchen and great smiles to the faces of my family. Then I remembered a story.  I went through a spell where my bread looked beautiful until about 5 minutes into the baking and then the tops would go flat.  The taste was still great but the loaves looks so goofy it frustrated me.  Then one day, for no reason I can understand, I pulled out three of the most beautifully shaped loaves that had come from my oven in a long time.  Moments later Jason walked in and began to slice himself a piece of warm bread, the problem was, the bread was still too hot to slice and he flattened and mangled the loaf trying to cut a piece.  My shoulders sunk when I saw it…all my beautiful hard work…mashed into a mess.  It was my job to slice and deliver at the right time. Then I realized how happy he was to be enjoying one of his favorite things, hot homemade bread and melted butter.  My thoughts changed and the messy loaf of bread didn’t matter anymore because I realized I had missed the point!

After Jesus had taken, blessed and broken the bread something curious happened.  He wasn’t the one who gave to the people gathered there that day.  He gave the bread to his apostles to share with the people. Jesus had performed an amazing miracle but when it was time to take credit for the task, he stepped aside and allowed someone else to distribute the blessing.  Nobody in the crowd missed out on the eating, but I’m sure many didn’t truly understand the amazing mystery of the multiplication. The greatest part of the story is the love and compassion Jesus felt for the crowd. It was that very love that motivated this great act but he didn’t need to be recognized, the loving was enough.

I lost sight of the point of this Gospel the day Jason mushed my bread.  I was more concerned with having my perfect bread noticed than allowing my efforts to demonstrate my love for my family. I forgot it was about the love and not the credit.

A Seed To Plant: In your prayer this week ask God to remind you that he can work miracles in your life simply because he loves you.  Ask him to take all your fears, concerns and trials and love you through them.  Ask him to remind you that no task is too big for the One who fed 5,000 with only five loaves and 2 fish.

Blessings on your day!