January 24
Matthew 15:29-16:12
In chapter 14, Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 men plus additional women and children. At the end of chapter 15, only one chapter later, the disciples find themselves in a similar situation. Yet, once again they fail to understand how feeding such a massive amount of people is possible. They had failed to learn their lesson: with Jesus all things are possible. The God who fed the Israelites in the wilderness with manna could miraculously feed the crowds in front of them. The Pharisees fall into this same trap, when despite all the miracles Jesus had performed, they pester him to do more on their timetable and in the way they are requesting. They are asking out of arrogance rather than faith. They also had failed to learn their lesson.
The disciples had failed to learn the lesson of compassion, which Jesus had tried to teach and model. Jesus responded to the hunger of the crowds continually with compassion. Why do we get exhausted serving people, especially those who are closest to us? Sometimes it is because we rely on our finite abilities, and other times it is because we flat out love ourselves more than others. We need to believe that true fulfillment comes by pouring out our lives rather than holding on to it. We need to learn the lesson that God is always serving us and empowering us through his Spirit to serve, so we should learn our lesson.
Father God, help me to remember all you have done for me and taught me, so I can respond in faith and service. Amen.
What lessons has God taught you recently that you need to do a better job of applying to your life?
In chapter 14, Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 men plus additional women and children. At the end of chapter 15, only one chapter later, the disciples find themselves in a similar situation. Yet, once again they fail to understand how feeding such a massive amount of people is possible. They had failed to learn their lesson: with Jesus all things are possible. The God who fed the Israelites in the wilderness with manna could miraculously feed the crowds in front of them. The Pharisees fall into this same trap, when despite all the miracles Jesus had performed, they pester him to do more on their timetable and in the way they are requesting. They are asking out of arrogance rather than faith. They also had failed to learn their lesson.
The disciples had failed to learn the lesson of compassion, which Jesus had tried to teach and model. Jesus responded to the hunger of the crowds continually with compassion. Why do we get exhausted serving people, especially those who are closest to us? Sometimes it is because we rely on our finite abilities, and other times it is because we flat out love ourselves more than others. We need to believe that true fulfillment comes by pouring out our lives rather than holding on to it. We need to learn the lesson that God is always serving us and empowering us through his Spirit to serve, so we should learn our lesson.
Father God, help me to remember all you have done for me and taught me, so I can respond in faith and service. Amen.
What lessons has God taught you recently that you need to do a better job of applying to your life?
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