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Today I am thinking on the word “small”. Most of the definitions included the words, “when compared to {or with}…”. We know that comparing ourselves to others is a trap that only leads to us thinking of ourselves as ignorant, insignificant, or incompetent. Sometimes we feel one or the other, at other times, all three at the same time.

What if, just what if doing the small things each day are truly the big things? What if the small things turn out to be the biggest things we ever do?

With these questions before me, I set out to see what I could learn.

I found Jesus in the Temple, “he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box” (Luke 21:1, NLT). It is what occurred next which is significant:

“Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.” (verse 2)

The rich gave their gifts and so did the poor widow. Scripture notes for us that hers were small yet they in now way went unnoticed by Jesus for He states, “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them” (verse 3).

What can Jesus possibly mean? Did He not see the large donations of the rich? Did He not hear her coins clink as they hit the bottom of the donation box? Did He not realize two small coins would not do much?

donations
Jesus explains,  “For they {the rich} have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has” (verse 4).

While some may have overlooked the small coins to get to the larger bills, Jesus overlooked the large bills to notice the small coins.

Another time, there was a large crowd listening to Jesus teach who needed to eat. When sent out to look for food, the best the disciples could find was a young boy with a bag lunch containing five barley loaves and two fish. Hardly enough to feed a crowd of about 5,000.

Barley, the grain of the poor. This was a modest meal and yet we are told the provision was great, “And they all ate as much as they wanted” (John 6:11b, NLT).

These stories, recorded to teach us, show me that what is given counts for less than the attitude of the giver. Jesus looks at the way in which we give rather than at what we have given.

We have opportunities before us each day, probably most of which we would consider “small”. But here’s the thing – one day we will be before the Lord and He will welcome us as He says,

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:34, NLT)

Each of these things were so small, we didn’t pay attention while we were doing them. We will be scratching our heads and asking, “When?” (verses 37-39)

We will be amazed that the Lord even took notice of these small acts for we didn’t do any of them to be gain recognition.

It is then we will realize …
Small is big in the eyes of our Lord.
Let’s do the small things today!

 

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Today I am joining … Tell His Story and Coffee For Your Heart and Women With Intention .