Little Things for Big Things – Family Devotion – August 4, 2021

Read: 2 Kings 4:42-44

A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” Elisha said.

“How can I set this before a hundred men?” his servant asked.

But Elisha answered, “Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the Lord says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.
2 Kings 4:42-44

Little Things for Big Things

 

Family Devotion – August 4, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Kings 4:42-44

See series: Devotions

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It was a terrible tragedy when Anthony’s wife died. Everyone in town heard about the car accident. Everyone knew it would be tough for Anthony to raise two children all by himself. Everyone was shocked and sad about what happened. But little six-year-old Carly knew just what to do.

Carly grabbed some construction paper and her favorite markers, and she got to work drawing. Carly drew a hill with an open doorway (it was supposed to be an empty tomb), a bright sun shining in the sky, and three stick people standing next to the hill. (The stick people were supposed to be Anthony and his two children.) Above each person Carly drew a heart with a cross in it. The picture said, “Jesus lives and Jesus loves you.”

It was just a little picture drawn with a crayon, but it was so powerful. When Anthony and his children saw it, they were filled with tears and with joy. Carly’s picture helped to give them peace because it reminded them that their loved one was now in heaven. Anthony took a picture of Carly’s artwork with his phone and posted it online.

Within a few days, the picture went viral. Carly’s creation had been viewed and shared over a million times! People all over the world heard about Carly’s loving picture. But even more amazing than that, over a million people heard about Jesus as the Savior who rose from the dead and conquered sin and death. God used a little thing for a really big thing!

In today’s short story from the Bible, a man brought 20 loaves of bread to the prophet Elisha. It was a little act of love, but God used that little thing for a really big thing! He fed a hundred people with it! This short story reminds us of how Jesus did a similar miracle (but much bigger!) when he fed over 5,000 people.

All of these stories remind us of God’s incredible power. The Lord can use simple, little things to do big things. Jesus used a manger as his resting place when he was born. He used a cross as the place to die for your sins. He used a tomb as the place to rise in victory over death. Now Jesus wants to use “little” old you and me to do big things in his kingdom.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for showing your big power through little things in this world. Continue to use that power in me to bring big blessings to other people. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

  • What did the man in the story bring to Elisha to feed over 100 people?
  • What are your favorite foods that God provides for you?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

  • How does God provide food for you to eat each day?
  • Describe little ways that God could use you to help provide food for other people now and when you are older.

Questions for Middle School and Above

  • Can you think of at least one story in the Bible when God used little things to accomplish big miracles?
  • Compare and contrast the Bible story today with the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000.

Hymn: CW 469:1,3-4 – Take My Life and Let It Be

Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my voice and let me sing Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold; Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use Ev’ry pow’r as thou shalt choose.

 

Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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