Today’s scripture: John 6:5-14 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Brent Walsh):
The boy clutched the small basket close as the crowd closed in around him, shoving and pushing him like a leaf in the wind. If it weren’t for the fact that it was his mother’s favorite basket, he would have discarded it hours ago. He hadn’t wanted to bring it in the first place, but as he was rushing out the door to catch up with the crowd, his mother thrust it into his hands and wouldn’t let him leave without it. “You’ll be hungry later,” she had said, “and I don’t want you out all day with nothing to eat!” How he wished his mother would have let him leave the basket at home. After all, no one else had baskets of food, so why should he have to lug one around?
Finally the boy made his way through the crowd to a hillside overlooking the spot where Jesus of Nazareth was telling a story to the thousands who clamored to hear him.
He opened the basket and peered inside, unimpressed with the contents. Five small loaves of bread and two fish were wrapped in cloth and placed neatly in the basket along with a note from his mother that said simply, “A little extra in case you want to share.”
Thought for the day: God can use the commonplace things — like a brown bag lunch, or a little boy — to do wonderful work. Have you offered up your ordinary things?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.