Eye of MacGyver
John 6:5-9 MKJV
(5) Then Jesus lifted up His eyes and saw a great crowd come to Him. He said to Philip, Where shall we buy loaves so that these may eat?
(6) And He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
(7) Philip answered Him, Loaves for two hundred denarii are not enough for them, that every one may take a little.
(8) One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are these among so many?
I really enjoy math and I think it has a lot to do with the math teachers I had throughout school; that is until I came to the teacher of my Calculus class in college. What I enjoy about math is when you’re given all the resources, formulas, methods, etc. necessary to solve problems you are given. It’s like a puzzle- all the pieces are there, and if you’ll just apply them correctly a solution will result. The problem with my college professor was that I always felt I was being asked something for which I had never been given the necessary solving resources; I wasn’t equipped for the solution. I would spend all night attempting to solve a problem he had never prepared me for, and though I did possibly have those necessary elements I didn’t feel that I could approach him for a demonstration of how to utilize them. I came to believe that I just didn’t have what it took, that what I had in the way of knowledge and understanding would never be enough to complete his course no matter how many questions I tried to answer.
How often are we presented with a faith stretching question that may initially bring a sense of desperation, that maybe we’re ill equipped for the solution. However, like Philip and Andrew, it can be known that the apparent natural limited resources, rather than being a restrictive barrier, can become a means for a miracle when presented to the Master. It’s interesting that they even bothered to list what was available, knowing how small it was in comparison to the need. I believe, though, that with God there is a faith move that is merely seeing that all available resources, no matter how small, are enough in the hands of the Master. The right answer then, the answer of faith, is the offering to Him of whatever is available, no matter how small.
A character on a television series from a few years ago had this approach to the challenges before him. MacGyver was continually placed in a predicament for which he was ill-equipped with what would be considered by most to be adequate resources. He had a different way of looking at things, however. Instead of looking around and maybe finding nothing powerful or big enough to help him, he would instead find even the smallest of items that he would use to facilitate his escape or accomplish his impossible mission. Things as small as a paper clip were seen as significant and essential to overcoming the challenges before him. His eye was always seeing normal, ordinary and insignificant items as the ingredients for deliverance rather than the reasons for failure. His experience had shown him that there was always hope as long as there was anything at all within reach. For every question presented by his impossible pop quizzes of life, he had an eye that was inspired by the challenges to make whatever was available his means for success and victory.
For those who have found themselves in the company of Jesus for any period of time, there is a change in perceptions. The eye goes through a transformation to become much like that of MacGyver. Whenever a test question arises the eye begins to immediately look around for available resources to place in the hand of the Master. Rather than despairing like those who are without hope of deliverance, it becomes a natural and immediate response that no matter how small, the things right now within reach will be more than enough for God to accomplish His purpose in our deliverance. Water is enough for a wine shortage, a staff is enough for delivering a nation, a boy’s lunch is enough to feed a multitude, and a small smooth stone is enough to down a giant.
Rather than being shaken by the size of any mountain or challenge before us at any time, there is an opportunity to have the right response to the question it presents. There will always be something available to us that no matter its size will be more than sufficient for the task in the hands of the Master. Mountains will be moved by mere words and financial terrors will be dissuaded by the presentation of whatever’s left within reach. Just lifting it up to Him will be the right miracle-producing response.
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 KJV
(27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
(28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
Mark 10:27 KJV
(27) And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
