Small and Mighty 渺小却强大
Dexu Xia
Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? John 6:9
Today's Scripture John 6:5-15
Today's Insights
After the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:5-13), a crowd again found Jesus (v. 25). He knew they were there to see another miracle, so He said, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life” (v. 27). He explained, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” (v. 29). Just as a boy’s small gift of food had a momentous impact, so too the decision to trust Christ in the midst of a crisis has tremendous ramifications—for us and for the lives God will touch through us.
Today's Devotional
On December 9, 1987, a squirrel chewed through a power line in Connecticut, and the Nasdaq’s vast financial machinery blinked, sighed, and went dark. Some of the world’s largest corporations stood limp and listless. Global economies watched, sweating bullets for nearly an hour and a half. All because of one tenacious, furry rodent.
Scripture tells many stories of something or someone small making a big impact. But God can turn meagerness into something mighty. John recounts how Jesus fed a hungry crowd (five thousand men, probably fifteen thousand with women and children included) when “a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish” handed over his small lunch (John 6:9). In the Old Testament we remember that a young shepherd boy named David trusted God and slayed a giant (1 Samuel 17). And Christ repeatedly insisted that the kingdom of God is something like a mustard seed, “the smallest of all seeds” (Matthew 13:32).
When we ponder the many complex global crises in addition to the bewildering concerns in our own neighborhoods and families, we’re tempted to believe that our seemingly small efforts lack power. But Scripture tells us to act in obedience and trust as God helps us—assured that with Him, small things can become mighty (John 6:10-12).
Reflect & Pray
Where do you feel small or powerless? How do you sense God inviting you to surrender your smallness to Him?
Dear God, I often feel small, with nothing to offer. Please help me remember that with You, small things become mighty.
By Winn Collier
“这里有一个男孩，他有五个小小的麦饼和两条小鱼，但这点食物怎么够这么多人吃呢？”（约翰福音 6:9 ）
今日经文：约翰福音 6章5-15 节
今日洞见： 在耶稣喂饱五千人之后（约翰福音 6:5-13），又有一群人找到耶稣（第 25 节）。耶稣知道他们来是为了看神迹，所以祂说：“不要为那必坏的食物劳力，要为那存到永生的食物劳力”（第 27 节）。祂解释说：“信祂所差来的，就是作神的工”（第 29 节）。正如一个男孩奉献了他微薄的食物，从而产生了巨大的影响，同样，在危机中选择信靠基督也会带来巨大的影响，无论是对我们自己，还是对神将通过我们触及的生命而言，都是如此。
今日灵修 1987 年 12 月 9 日，一只松鼠在康涅狄格州咬断了一根电线，纳斯达克庞大的金融系统瞬间瘫痪，陷入一片黑暗。一些世界上最大的公司也因此停摆。全球经济体都紧张地关注着，焦急地等待了将近一个半小时。这一场大灾难，仅仅是因为一只顽强的小小的毛茸茸的啮齿动物。
圣经讲述了许多关于渺小的事物或人物产生巨大影响的故事。神可以将微不足道的事物变成强大的力量。约翰记载了耶稣如何喂饱饥饿的人群（五千名男子，如果算上妇女和儿童，可能有一万五千人），因为当时“有一个带着五个大麦饼和两条小鱼” 的男孩，把他的午餐献出来（约翰福音 6:9）。在旧约中，我们记得一个名叫大卫的年轻牧羊人信靠神，击杀了巨人歌利亚（撒母耳记上 17 章）。基督也反复强调，神的国就像一粒芥菜种，“是百种里最小的”（马太福音 13:32）。
当我们思考许多复杂的全球危机，以及我们自己社区和家庭中令人困惑的问题时，我们很容易认为自己看似微不足道的努力毫无力量。但圣经告诉我们，要顺服地行动，信靠神，因为祂会帮助我们——确信在祂的帮助下，渺小的事物也能变得强大（约翰福音 6:10-12）。
反思与祈祷 你何时感到渺小或无力？你如何感受到上帝邀请你，将你的渺小交托给他？
亲爱的上帝，我常常感到自己很渺小，一无所有。求你帮助我记住，有了你，渺小的事物也能变得伟大。作者：Winn Collier