The One Who Doesn't Count

"They all ate and were satisfied." --Mark 6:42 Read: Mark 6:30-39

When the crowds grew hungry, can't you just see the disciples on their tip-toes counting heads? I wonder what number they reached before they realized they were outnumbered? But just to be sure, they decided to count inventory of the basket. "Two, three, four...nope, we're sure of it. Five loaves, two fish."

If you're like me, depending on the day, you've been both the worried disciple and the hungry crowd. In either case, the only one we can ever count on is the only onenot counting. But some days, I feel like the young boy don't you? Imagine him for a second. Little did he know that when his mom packed his bag that morning, he would literally hand it to God.

And while we don't hear the disciples say, "Thanks kid!" or "Glad you didn't come empty-handed, son," I like to imagine that after he got squeezed between the disciples and pushed to the back of the crowd, he found a nice spot on the hill with a good view. Grinning, he put his chin in his hands and watched God make a miracle out of his lunch.

We never know what the day has in store, but we do know what we bring to the day, spiritually and physically. (Let's remember to bring it.) And like Alistair Begg says, "We don't attempt to make ourselves acceptable to God, but to live in the empowerment of God in a way that pleases Him." So while we may not get applause, make sure to stick around to watch God do what only He can do with your life, and be sure to save me a seat.

And oh, did you notice the verse?: "They all ate."

You never know, maybe the boy grinned with his mouth full, and maybe Jesus Himself brought the little guy his meal. But what we do know for certain is that our work never goes unnoticed -- at least not by the one who doesn't count.

--Jimmy Peña