Start Small

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin,” (Zechariah 4:10)

It’s not the way things work. A kid doesn’t begin their school time in the twelfth grade. An athlete isn’t selected as MVP the first day of practice. A person doesn’t become the CEO of a company as a new hire. These things, and others, must be “started small” then work up to the next level. And, as the above verse says, the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.

Let’s look at some small beginnings.

• David was a teenager when God sent him to go face a giant. (1 Samuel 17). A small boy with small, smooth stones.
• In John 6, there was a need to feed thousands of people who had come to hear Jesus. No restaurants around but a boy had his small lunch of bread and fish and offered it to Jesus. Small boy, small lunch. And thousands were fed with many leftovers.
• Jesus was watching people bring their large gifts to the Temple but then He saw, “a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.” (Mark 12:42). She is recorded in the Bible because of her small but sacrificial gift.
• Then, think about a small seed. If it’s an acorn, when planted, will grow into a very tall tree. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus talks about faith being like a small mustard seed that will grow into a large plant. Faith begins small.
• How about a small baby boy born in a barn in Bethlehem? God could have sent Jesus to earth as a powerful King but His plan was to “start small”. And we know how this small beginning developed.

We may think something God has called us to do is a small thing. But we see how God works. If we “start small” and follow God’s lead, He will bring us into something much greater. What has God called and gifted you to do? Start small, follow Jesus and watch, with faith, to see where He takes you. He’s watching for the work to begin.