{{Today is Friday!!! It is the day I link with Lisa Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. Here is how it works…. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. Lots of women. Everyone writes on the same word.}}
Today’s word is …. Crowd.
To feel like one of the crowd is a feeling of insignificance. Of being unnoticed. When a person is just one in a crowd, the feeling is being a number, of unimportance. It is not an encouraging or affirming way to think regarding oneself. We all want to belong, to feel that we matter or make a difference for having been present.
In reading the Gospels this Lent season, I have been so impressed with Jesus and the way He managed “the crowds”. There are two times, recorded for us, in which Jesus has a crowd listening to him when it becomes late in the day. Aware of their need for supper, Jesus tells His disciples to feed them. I love their reply, “Are you serious?”
But Jesus was indeed serious.
In Mark, we are told that Jesus even arranged them in groups of fifty, like a patchwork quilt (I was reading in The Message yesterday). Jesus organized them in group sizes which would be manageable. This morning seeing the word prompt, I cannot help but wonder…. was it so no person in the crowd would be missed? If there were no organization and the disciples walked around to distribute the food to the masses, it would be easy to overlook the one. But the crowd mattered to Jesus.
Scripture tells us, “They all ate their fill.”
All.
Each one.
Even in the crowd, He sees the one.
Today I am joining …. Five Minute Friday and Fellowship Fri. and Faith Filled Fri. and Essential Fri. and Fri. Flash Blog and Beauty Observed and Everyday Jesus and Friday Favorites .
Ahhhh…thank you so much for your reminder that even when I feel insignificant, unnoticed, small, Jesus sees me. He intimately knows me. And He loves me…
Very encouraging words!
~Your FMF neighbor
Michelle – Just a thought…our feelings will lie to us. We are not insignificant or unnoticed, ever. His eyes are always on us. Always. Grateful you stopped here!
ahh…such encouraging words! Thank you for reminding me that even when I’m just ‘one of a crowd’ that, to Jesus, I’m actually ‘one of a kind’!
~Your FMF neighbor
Yes, we are each “one of a kind”. No mold is ever used twice with Him. Let’s remember that today!
Your post has really encouraged me. Sometimes I feel lost and I wonder if God sees me. And sometimes I wonder if He hears my prayers because they seem so small and insignificant in the face of the many problems of this world. But I’m so glad that He’s reminded me that He DOES see me and He DOES hear me and no prayer is too small for Him to answer. Thank you!
No prayer is ever small or insignificant. I am learning along the way that if it concerns me, it concerns Him. He cares about those things that matter to each of us. May we bring it all to Him!
There is such significance and hope wrapped in this post. He sees me. I am never lost. I am important to Him. Praise God for this reminder today.
It was such a good word prompt this week. We all so needed to be reminded we are part of a crowd but not lost in the crowd. He sees each one of us & more so, He knows us each intimately. So glad you stopped here, Jen.
Preach it, sista! Jesus and His ability to manage crowds inspires me within our ministry… Although some days I do feel like the disciples being like “Are you serious, Lord?”
Yes. Yes He is! We are significant to Him.
So grateful for your encouragement, Sharita. Keep looking to Jesus to continue to know how to manage the crowd He has placed before you. Blessings!
Yes, even in the crowd, He sees the one. I needed this reminder today, my friend. Thanks so much!
Holly, your comment prompted me to think a bit more. I see your smiling face icon so frequently that I would never think you would need the reminder. What a silly thought on my part. But it goes to show how we do these linkups & our thought is how our little boxes get lost in the crowd. Seriously. I think the same when I see tons of boxes. Yet may we remember that our God will draw the one out of the crowd who needs to read our written thoughts at exactly the time they need to read them. Lord, help us to not only remember He sees us(the one) but He reaches each one and draws each one. He truly works one on one 🙂 Thank you, my friend, for leaving your comment which made me think a little deeper this morning on all of this. Have a great weekend!
I’ve never contemplated that Jesus sat the crowd into groups–I guess it goes to show that we as church people should be more aware of those around us–find ways to make people feel part of a group and not just a person in a crowd. It’s definitely something to ponder. Crowds are anonymous and groups require commitment (and not everyone wants commitment, but that’s where learning and growth take place).
Love these thoughts on groups! It really is something to think about. I had never realized how Jesus sat them in groups. Something to be said for reading from a version other than the one I am familiar with. Thank you so much for sharing here with me!
Love this passage and this post! Thanks for sharing your insight, Joanne!
Thank you for challenging us all to go on this journey through the New Testament with you. And thank you for taking the time to visit me. Blessings!!
Wow!! Very thought provoking! I like that…”Scripture tells us, “They all ate their fill.” All. Each one.”
Thank you for linking-up at Beauty Observed! I’m so happy to see you there every week!
Fondly,
Elizabeth
He will provide our fill too as we come to Him. So happy to join you each week, Elizabeth!