Miracles: Remember Your Role

Miracles rest in the hands of God. That’s his role, not mine.

One of the few stories repeated in all four Gospels is the feeding of the 5,000. If you’re not familiar with the story, a great crowd gathered to see Jesus — 5,000 men (not including the women and children in attendance). The people had come, but they didn’t expect to be there all day, so when dinner time came, no one was ready. 

No one but a boy with his sack lunch of a few fish and a couple loaves of bread. The disciples find and bring him to Jesus, and Jesus multiplies the boy’s lunch to feed the crowd of thousands. 

Here’s the trap: forgetting our role. We don’t play the role of the little boy – eagerly bringing our meager gift to Jesus. We don’t play the role of the disciples – excitedly finding the boy or breathlessly distributing the gift. Those are our roles, but we try to play Jesus. We believe we can multiply loaves and fish. 

Miracles rest in the hands of God.

You can’t multiply, but you can bring the little you have. You can’t work miracles, but you can find someone who has something to give. You’re not God, but you can distribute the miracles he performs. 

Jesus multiplies. You bring and distribute. Remember and embrace your role.