Devotional 2/12/2017

Mark 8:14-21 "Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, "Watch out; beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?" (ESV)

Sometimes we can be a really hard-headed kind of people. God has worked wonders in all of our lives, as Believers. Whether it is delivering us from a rough past, providing us with a way of life, or bringing us to a wonderful church family, God has always taken care of us. Some of us have had true miracles performed in our lives; the healing of a relative, the deliverance from a terrible auto-accident, or some other Divine intervention. And yet, we are so stuck in the present that we easily forget these things. I know I am guilty of that.

How often have we found ourselves in a pickle; running late for an important meeting, running behind on bills, or with a broken down car, and we begin to question God. "Why are you letting this happen to me????" Maybe it is something big; being diagnosed with a disease, the death of a loved one, losing your job. As hard as these things can be, hasn't God always taken care of you?

In the passage above, Jesus was going through a rough time. Jesus's cousin, John the Baptist had just been executed by Herod. In an attempt to get some time away, Jesus and His disciples attempted to go to a 'desolate place' for some peace and quiet and time to eat. (Mark 6:31) He was followed by a great multitude, and while it was not necessarily how He planned it, He was moved with compassion and fed them. The people were filled, and Jesus again attempts to get away. The disciples get in a boat, but Jesus goes up on a mountain, alone. He prays, and most likely grieves, before meeting with His disciples again. He performs more miracles after the disciples finish crossing the sea. A great crowd follows Him for three days, and He knows they have not eaten in that entire time, so He feeds them as well. (Mark 8:1-5) Remember, Jesus just lost His cousin, the man He said was greater than any man born to woman. Jesus loved John. This brings us to our passage.

Despite all that had happened, the lack of privacy, the loss of His cousin, and the irritating lack of insight by His disciples, Jesus remembers the miracles and blessings in His life, and wants His disciples to do the same. It is easy in our day, amid the constant hustle-and-bustle, to lose track of all that we have, all that God has given us. You know, there's an old hymn 'Count your Blessings,' and the chorus goes, "Count your blessings, see what God has done." I think that if we had this mindset, it could really impact our lives. God has been an active force in all that we enjoy. Instead of questioning and throwing our hands in the air, instead of worrying, remember how He has moved in your life before, thank Him, and trust Him.

God is good.