Photographer Oliver Curtis’ exhibit Volte-face (“about turn”) interacts with iconic landmarks—only his images capture what’s found in the opposite direction. So, when he arrived at Stonehenge, he turned 180 degrees before taking his pictures, capturing images that are typically ignored. Curtis says the photos “send [our] gaze elsewhere and . . . favor the incidental over the monumental.”
Most of us are drawn to large possibilities, solutions, or obvious sources of provision and power (the big things) over small possibilities, quiet solutions, or inconspicuous sources of provision or power (the incidental things). Jesus’ disciples weren’t immune to this tendency, as demonstrated by their reaction to the needs of the crowds drawn to Jesus. In one instance, when He’d attempted to slip away to rest, the “crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him.” Jesus “welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick” (Luke 9:11).
More than 5,000 people had gathered in the wilderness, however, and they were hungry. Jesus asked His disciples to feed them, but they replied: “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish” (Luke 9:13). Of course the situation was impossible, even ridiculous. Yet the disciples would soon learn to see things in a new way—Jesus’ way. Jesus often uses the small, forgotten, or foolish things to do His work (1 Corinthians 1:27). Only a few biscuits and sardines to feed thousands. A motley crew of bewildered disciples to announce God’s good news. A dying Savior to redeem the whole world.
You may think you have nothing to offer—that your life is too trivial or insignificant. Look closer. With God, nothing is too small.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Esther 2:1-23
More:
Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. What do you think Paul has in mind when he speaks of “foolish things”?
Next:
When do you feel small or insignificant? How does it encourage you to know that God can use even little things to do something great?
Marlena Graves on May 3, 2017 at 1:10 am
I loved this so much, Winn. It really encouraged me. And so well-written!
Winn Collier on May 3, 2017 at 4:12 pm
thank you, Marla
Gary Shultz on May 3, 2017 at 3:06 am
Hi Winn: I would have to side with you that the foolish things, are the insignificant things in the world’s eyes. Jesus taught the disciples little by little bring a picture that surrounded different facets of Christs power. Continually amazing them with how He could take the small and make the big, how He controlled nature, and death itself. Christ touched life in every way. And you are right, viewing a God of this power, the closer we get the smaller we seem. However, in understanding God’s greatness and power, the other side of His bigness becomes evident, His capacity to love us. His bigness doesn’t stop with stuff, making His whole point, He is a God big enough to care for each of us. In the small, in the big no place goes beyond God’s reach, no part of life or person is too small. If God has made this great investment in us, He will continue to care and bring us to a place small things will matter in a big way. Thanks Winn
Winn Collier on May 3, 2017 at 4:15 pm
yes, he will, Gary. yes, he will.
don777 on May 3, 2017 at 4:55 am
Just as Jesus is the Bread of life & the Living water. There is always enough & some left over. He ask all of us to distribute/proclaim His Word. He is the only Truth that can quench the hunger & thirst of the soul/spirit. His Word never goes void. Are they hungry for the life we live? +>i 🙂
Winn Collier on May 3, 2017 at 4:17 pm
This word “hungry” has been on my mind for the past day.
conmeo on May 3, 2017 at 7:12 am
Great post Winn. When Paul speaks of the “foolish” things I think of people. Who did Jesus touch, who did He reach out to? The so called “lowly”, the leper, the woman at the well the weak, the lonely and the rejected. The “despised” by us for whatever reason and the world in general. How great a picture and example to us. We need not look far, there are those people all around us. Let us remember the “Royal Law” and love, like no one else……wait we have THE example…..love like Jesus did! Let us all reach out to the “other(s)” in our “way”. Those that are weak, sick, lonely, rejected, walking blind, angry, those walking in denial, lost and forgotten. As you put it Winn, “with God nothing is small”. What great love is this? May we all walk the other way and turn to those He loves.
godlove on May 3, 2017 at 8:39 am
Once again we see how limited our understading of our Almighty God can be. Our limited human minds just can’t fathom the full extend of the power and might of God, as a result we tend to limit every aspect of His character only as far as our minds go. But God can do with us so much more than what we imagine, if only we would have faith and allow Him to use our little trivial-feeling and imperfect selves as instruments for His work (preaching to myself here). Thank you for this post, Winn, blessings to you and to all.
sandy229 on May 3, 2017 at 10:30 am
godlove, what you said reminds me of this passage of scripture.
Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this reason I kneel before the Father from who every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, and that the and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us–to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
godlove on May 4, 2017 at 2:45 am
Thank you for sharing, sandy. Be blessed.
Tom Felten on May 3, 2017 at 8:43 am
Winn, what an amazing God who can use 5 loaves of bread and a couple fish to feed 5,000+. I’m reminded of what Jesus once said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible” (Matthew 19:26).
Winn Collier on May 3, 2017 at 4:15 pm
Everything possible, that’s right.
sandy229 on May 3, 2017 at 10:24 am
Thank you Winn for this most encouraging devotion. It makes me think of this prayer.
Lord, so many times I’m like Moses. I sense you calling me to do something wonderful, something risky, something beyond my ability. And then I say, “Who am I that I could…?” Lord, help me to believe that I am who You say that I am, and that I can do what You say I can do. Help my unbelief, my shaky knees, and my weak hands. For I know that my weakness is made perfect in Your strength.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Winn Collier on May 3, 2017 at 4:16 pm
That’s a good prayer, Sandy.
mleue on May 4, 2017 at 1:20 am
Thank you for that devotion. I always love to see the small things in life that are oblivious to many people in their haste chasing many things. Unexpected surprises from God are the best there are.