Mark 8:14-21
“The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?””
Mark 8:14-21 NIV
Worry is a sign we've forgotten the great blessings and providence of God in our past. That is why the praise we offer to God for what He has done for us is so important. Praise is a time when we rehearse and remember the great things God has done and remember the great God He has been in the past and has promised to be in our future. It helps us acknowledge that God was and is and always will be the great provider and Shepherd for his sheep.
You and I are so easily distracted. Our mind and thoughts can wander from one thing to the next without effort. While listening to something very important we can be thinking about the need to clean the toilet when we get home. These mental distractions can happen even when God is talking to you.
Have you ever been reading the Bible and realized that you don’t remember the last few verses you just read because you were thinking about something unrelated?
Have you ever been listening to someone teach the Bible and found yourself thinking about what you need to get at Walmart or what you need to do when you get home or something you forgot to do before you left home?
Our mind can tune out what God is trying to tell us and we are usually unaware that we have just tuned God out. This is what happens to the disciples and today we are going to take a look at some lessons about having a deeper focus in life when it comes to the things of God.
When you read this encounter with the disciples you might think, How can the disciples be so unaware and not remember what Jesus had done? How can they not connect the dots? When you ask that question of the disciples, we immediately must ask that of ourselves the same questions. Before we criticize the disciples too harshly we need to examine ourselves. They are an example of all of us.
There is another implication we need to consider. As we grow spiritually and our understanding of God’s Word and His truth become more and more clear to us, we must not forget that not everyone is where we are. We will get frustrated with them for not understanding when they should have already been more mature in certain areas, but don’t give up on them, but continue to help them grow. This is what Jesus did.
There are things in life that humans cannot bear to understand, but with God’s grace, we are able to comprehend His plans for us. In the Gospel, Jesus questioned the thinking of His disciples of why they thought of such thing. They have yet to understand the true meaning of what happened in the feeding of the four thousand. They were blindedby their own senses and failed to grasp the miracle that happened then.
It was truly about the change of heart of men in which they decided to share upon the blessing of God and not to keep them for themselves. There was no multiplication of bread but instead, there was a revelation of love. It was on that moment where humans start to act according to God’s will and become the person that they are called to be for others and for the world.
It is easy to read this story with critical eyes, claiming that we are not like the disciples and that we would never do such a thing. We are more astute than they were when it comes to paying attention to how Jesus is working around us. But that is where we would be in error, I think.
Just like the disciples, Jesus has worked in our lives in many different ways. He has provided for us when it seemed like there was no way. He has given us peace in the midst of trial. He has brought comfort to us in the hard times. He has worked miracles of transformation in our lives. He has won the victory over sin. He has given us victory over temptations, addictions, and things of the like.
Yet in the moment, too often it seems as if we are quick to forget how Jesus has worked in our lives as we are captivated by the present circumstance, the trouble it is bringing us, and the schemes that can be drawn up to relieve us of the present burden. In the moments when the only appropriate response is to depend on Jesus, it is far too easy to depend on ourselves and to let worry and fear consume us. We forgot the bread. We only have one loaf. What are we going to do?
Maybe, when it comes to trusting Jesus, the problem might be more than misunderstanding. Maybe the problem is hedging our bets. We want to follow Jesus but we are fearful of riling up the Herod’s and the Pharisees in our own lives. We want to dip our toe into the water instead of diving in headfirst. In this light, Jesus is doing more than cautioning His disciples. He is inviting them to dive in.
Today may we let go of our agenda of the blessings we think we need and simply and thankfully receive the many blessings that God will gift us with today. Most of them may be small blessings, yet what precious gifts. And may we remember to thank God for the blessings we receive!!!
Father thank You for this day and and please guide our minds and my hearts from teachings that would take Your place in our lives. Lord open the floodgates of heaven and pour out Your abundant blessings upon my friend and family today. Lord Guard us against a Pharisaical spirit and a worldly attitude of wanting more when we have You already. Lord may our faith in You grow deeper today as we see it transform our decisions and actions. Lord, help us trust that You are enough and save us from veering off to the many enticing dead end paths that would take our eyes off of following You in all things. Lord use my friend to be the touch of Your love to all today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !!
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