The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Sunday, 2017 "Small Deeds" John 6:1-13
John 6:1 Some time later, Yeshua went over to the far side of Lake Kinneret (that is, Lake Tiberias), 2 and a large crowd followed him, because they had seen the miracles he had performed on the sick. 3 Yeshua went up into the hills and sat down there with his talmidim. 4 Now the Judean festival of Pesach was coming up; 5 so when Yeshua looked up and saw that a large crowd was approaching, he said to Philip, “Where will we be able to buy bread, so that these people can eat?” 6 (Now Yeshua said this to test Philip, for Yeshua himself knew what he was about to do.) 7 Philip answered, “Half a year’s wages wouldn’t buy enough bread for them — each one would get only a bite!” 8 One of the talmidim, Andrew the brother of Shim‘on Kefa, said to him, 9 “There’s a young fellow here who has five loaves of barley bread and two fish. But how far will they go among so many?”
10 Yeshua said, “Have the people sit down.” There was a lot of grass there, so they sat down. The number of men was about five thousand. 11 Then Yeshua took the loaves of bread, and, after making a b’rakhah, gave to all who were sitting there, and likewise with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 After they had eaten their fill, he told his talmidim, “Gather the leftover pieces, so that nothing gets wasted.” 13 They gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
John 6:1 Some time later, Yeshua went over to the far side of Lake Kinneret (that is, Lake Tiberias), 2 and a large crowd followed him, because they had seen the miracles he had performed on the sick. 3 Yeshua went up into the hills and sat down there with his talmidim. 4 Now the Judean festival of Pesach was coming up; 5 so when Yeshua looked up and saw that a large crowd was approaching, he said to Philip, “Where will we be able to buy bread, so that these people can eat?” 6 (Now Yeshua said this to test Philip, for Yeshua himself knew what he was about to do.) 7 Philip answered, “Half a year’s wages wouldn’t buy enough bread for them — each one would get only a bite!” 8 One of the talmidim, Andrew the brother of Shim‘on Kefa, said to him, 9 “There’s a young fellow here who has five loaves of barley bread and two fish. But how far will they go among so many?”
10 Yeshua said, “Have the people sit down.” There was a lot of grass there, so they sat down. The number of men was about five thousand. 11 Then Yeshua took the loaves of bread, and, after making a b’rakhah, gave to all who were sitting there, and likewise with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 After they had eaten their fill, he told his talmidim, “Gather the leftover pieces, so that nothing gets wasted.” 13 They gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? [John 6:9 (NIV)]
Early one morning while watering my plants on my porch I noticed that my favorite hanging plant was wilting. The blossoms were beginning to fade. I had only a little water left in my watering can, but I poured that on the plant, intending to come back later with more. But in my busy day, I forgot to return to the plant.
Much later, when I went back out to the porch, I noticed that my once-wilted plant had revived — the beautiful blooms full and glorious again! It only took a few drops of water to bring back its beauty.
I realized that living our faith can work in a similar way. We may feel that if we can’t do something big or if we don’t have a lot to contribute, we cannot help someone. But many times, small gestures can make a big difference in someone’s faith journey. One kind word spoken at the right time can turn everything around. Just like the boy offering his barley loaves and small fish in today’s reading, a small deed done in the name of God can produce a miracle.
I can share God’s love through a small act of kindness.
Early one morning while watering my plants on my porch I noticed that my favorite hanging plant was wilting. The blossoms were beginning to fade. I had only a little water left in my watering can, but I poured that on the plant, intending to come back later with more. But in my busy day, I forgot to return to the plant.
Much later, when I went back out to the porch, I noticed that my once-wilted plant had revived — the beautiful blooms full and glorious again! It only took a few drops of water to bring back its beauty.
I realized that living our faith can work in a similar way. We may feel that if we can’t do something big or if we don’t have a lot to contribute, we cannot help someone. But many times, small gestures can make a big difference in someone’s faith journey. One kind word spoken at the right time can turn everything around. Just like the boy offering his barley loaves and small fish in today’s reading, a small deed done in the name of God can produce a miracle.
The Author
Mary Beth Rademaker (North Carolina, USA)
Thought for the Day
I can share God’s love through a small act of kindness.
Prayer
Dear God, help us to share our gifts — no matter how small they may seem. Thank you for giving us the gifts that can help produce miracles in others’ lives. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those without access to clean water
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