Proximity

beth-3
by Beth Parkinson

Creative Media Assistant, CBN Europe

Featured Articles

When Jesus is handing out miracles, where do you position yourself? In the crowd, watching? Far away – disinterested? Or on your feet serving? Today, Beth Parkinson discusses the idea that those closest to the miracle are those serving…what do you think?

Blissful Ignorance

Have you ever visited a church gathering only to realise that it was actually a ‘Bring and Share’ kind of event and you completely missed the memo? You partake of the message shared, and then, almost as if by magic, food appears in plentiful supply and you enjoy a bit of quiche, cold pizza and maybe some potato salad?  

I was thinking over what it must have been like for the people who showed up for the sermon on the Mount, who suddenly had a beautiful fish supper served to them after a full day of teaching from Jesus.

Sure, they would have heard the disciples going round and asking if anyone had brought picnic goodies – and known that they, and maybe the person next to them too, had not thought to bring a sharing platter or bargain bucket. But soon enough they were being divided up into large groups and seated before the food was brought round.

Those furthest from Jesus would have had least idea of the scrambling around the disciples had been doing, urgently scraping together all they could, coming up short and having to take a meagre 5 loaves and 2 fish to the Messiah. In what I imagine was blissful ignorance, those crowds sat back and let the provision come to them.  

But all that scurrying around did something for the disciples. It set a desperation within them – only as each of them came back from their food-scouting mission amongst the crowds, empty-handed, just like the disciple next to them, did they realise how impossible dinner really would be that night.

For some, it created doubt, maybe even fear, but at the very least, a very real understanding of how little they had – ‘Send them away, Lord, we can’t feed them all,’ ‘It would take a year’s wages to buy food for all of them’. 

‘But all that scurrying around did something for the disciples. It set a desperation within them…’

Position…Perspective

And yet – when heaven interrupts our doubt and meets us at the very bottom of the barrel, as we bring our small handfuls of supply in the face of a vast need, how much greater does the miracle appear?

You see, position changes our perspective. 

Knowing our lack, but at a distance from Jesus, can only bring fear, and a desperation to hold on to the very little we have. But being in the presence of God and not bringing our needs to him is like standing hands outstretched but tight-fisted and unable to catch all He’s preparing to pour out.

When we acknowledge our lack, but do it in the presence of our Provider, we have the makings of a miracle.

When we obey even His most incomprehensible directions in faith, preparing those around us to receive a blessing while we still don’t see it ourselves, we set the stage for God to do the greatest miracles.

The best place to witness a miracle is to be serving.

As the bread and fish multiplied in their hands, I can only imagine the soaring joy in the hearts of the disciples, the look of wonder as they shared what looked like bread and fish – but what was really revelation! Heaven come to Earth. A loving Father feeding his kids. The Power of the Gospel in their hands. 

If proximity to the Gospel changes perspective, don’t get me a front row seat… I’ll be waiting in the wings, ready. 

Related Articles

Prince of Peace

Everlasting Father

Mighty God

Wonderful Counsellor

Real Life Stories

Power in the Light

Parenting Halloween

Out of the Darkness

Free and Free Indeed

The Power of the Gospel

Gospel Power

Protecting Your Joy

Joy Has A Reason

Choose Joy

True Joy

The Love we Deserve

Love in the Community

Surrounded

Love is a Verb

Servant or Served?

Hide and Seek

Selah

Never Lose Your Wonder

When They Saw the Star

Superbook Christmas 2021

Walking in the Sweet Spot

When Lives Are Restored

God Uses Broken Lives

Still in the Race

Growing Healthy Fruit

Stuck or Safe?

Embrace Your Journey

Ditch The Rotten Fruit

On Eagle’s Wings

In The Field

Life-Giving Words

Inside Out

The God Chase

My Redeemer Lives

Love Never Fails

Love Out Of Faith

Love Rejoices In Truth

Love Hopes All Things

99-1

CBN Europe READ

New Year, New You..?

The Gift Of New

Faithful Servanthood

Distracted

Hope In Action

Ask

Made To Worship

The 18-Inch Gap

Me, Myself and I

My Jesus Story

Songs That Speak

The God Who Sees

Warrior, Not Worrier

Finding Your Why

7 Days Ablaze Devotional

Don’t Date A Christian

Kill the Cancer of Contempt

Help! I feel called to…

You Are What You Love

He Likes To Be Asked

Remember Who You Are

A Letter For You

We Are The Selfie

Chase Wisdom

Jesus Leadership

Give God Some Space

Choose Faith

Tear Down Those Walls

How To Handle Bad News

Get Into The Flow

The Power of Partnership

Is God Too Busy For Me?

It Is A New Day

Presents & Presence

Unashamed To Be Naked

How To Overcome Offence

Don’t Be A Pigeon!

How Do You Treat Jesus?

The Colosseum of Mercy

CBN: A Ministry of Prayer

Does God Tempt Us?

The Secret To Contentment

How Do I Pray Out Loud?

Why Should I Pray Out Loud?

Do You Believe?

“Call Me Dad”

The Pinnacle Is Praise

A Tip About Tense

When Bono Met Eugene

‘Wonder’ Review

Elohim

Get A Life!

Generous Light

Faithful Prayer

Off By Heart

Faith In The Feels

Give God Some Space

Whose New Life?

Sharing Is Caring

The God Who Renames

Whatever The Weather

“To the Mothers”

Me, My Selfie and I

Making Time for God

Fresh Starts:

A Focus On Praise

Paul’s Challenge

Thanks to the Past

Steadfast Relationship

The Search For Approval

Don’t Date A Christian

My Champion, My Friend

Adoption And The Gospel

Remembering God

We Need “One Another”

Journal The Journey

Love Like Jesus

First Love

Love Language

Pursue Love

Down Is Up

The Simplest Law Of Love

Everything Made New

Too Busy Not To Love

Building Site Faith

Naked and Unashamed

Same Same but Different

Sitting with Dad

Trained for Dependence

Where’s Your Faith?

Waters

Keep Moving

The Way

The Training Ground

Hungry

Risky Faith

Substance or Shadow?

Come to the Waters

When God Breaks Your Legs

Getting Through Asia

Expectant

His Hand and His Heart

Barrier or Bridge?

It Belongs To You

Eager Expectations

Let’s Talk

Tangles

 in Blog, Blogs
0