Last Wednesday an interesting message was preached at church. Since then I have been reading over that passage several times and it has really made me think about a couple of things. They are very simple and everyone else has probably already thought of all this, but I thought I would share it anyway.
In the gospel of Mark it gives the account of the fishes/loaves miracle. It states that the disciples were commanded to gather up the remnants (12 baskets). Then Jesus commanded them to get into the ship and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee to Bethsaida. The two points I found really interesting were:
1. Mark 6:48 And he saw them toiling and rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
I found it interesting that the Bible stays that the Lord "would have passed by them." But in the next two verses it says they cried out and immediately he talked with them and told them to be of good cheer and be not afraid. I just think about all the decisions, big and small, we have in our lives for which we never ask God for help. But he is always right there wanting to help us if we will just call out to him! Then he will immediately talk with us and give us guidance. Yet most of us will just "toil and row" through all the storms of our lives. Even though God is right there the whole time we just seem to insist on trying to get thru on our own. How sad.
The second point I found interesting was....
2. Mark 6:51-52 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Now the disciples had JUST seen the miracle of the loaves and fishes and probably had the twelve baskets of remnants in the boat with them! Yet, not a few hours later they were "sore amazed" when they called out to him and he performed another miracle. Not just surprised or amazed, but sore amazed! Basically had forgotten about the previous miracle and the Bible says their hearts were hardened. I think that's is exactly like us... when we do pray for something and God provides it we are usually just amazed! Why should we be amazed? Do we have so little faith in the Lord? Or maybe we don't pray very much and are not seeing the full capacity of what God could be doing in our lives so when we do occasionally ask him for help and of course he does, we are just shocked!
We should remember that:
I Peter 3:12
"...the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers..."
9 comments:
Oh how true everything you wrote. This was so good. I thought also as I was reading that the Lord constrained the disciples to get in the ship and go to the other side knowing that the path would not be smooth. This tells me that the paths that God might choose for us will not always be "smooth sailing" as we would want. But it is always the best. Thank you for sharing this with us Katie.
Very thought-provoking, Katie. I enjoyed reading this.
Last night, Pastor Ray preached about waiting on the Lord for our answers...John 11:4-6...kind of ties into what you are saying, Mama.
Your post really encouraged me, Katie...thank you so much for sharing w/us!
Wow, Katie. This was so good and really just what I needed. I have been struggling with a couple things and really thinking about them today. I just woke up from a nap and read what you wrote. This was exactly what God was trying to show me. What a huge blessing. Such a simple lesson and yet I never thought to think of it when I read this in God's Word. If I just had the faith of a tiny seed, then I would see mountains moved.
Dear Katie,
you hit the nail on the head...we are so fickle...i dont understand why the Lord puts up with us...His mercy endureth forever.
I had never thought of that, that was a real blessing to see that tied together.....i cant wait to see the next nugget!!!
That is a great message Katie. I always wonder how the disciples could not see or understand that Jesus was more than just a teacher; which is why they were sore amazed at the things He did I guess; but then we tend to do the same thing as they did. We have never seen Jesus like they did. They had seen the Lord with their eyes and He walked with them along side them. Now we have something even better ...
Col 1:To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
I have always thought the same thing about the "stiffnecked" Israelites, Kevin. Exodus 33:5
BUT THEN we would have been just like them...sometimes I don't understand why the LORD puts up w/us.
Katie, I usually don't comment on the blog because it is more for your family but this was amazing. In the present times, there are miracles done everyday and we just don't see them because we are blind and our hearts are hardened. I have experienced my own miracles in being able to move closer to my family and without God none of that would have been possible. Thank you for such a wonderful uplifting message. Fran
Dear Fran,
We welcome and appreciate your comments all the time...please think of yourself as part of the family because you are....and talking about the Lord answering our prayers, He sure answered the prayer about the sale of your house!!!
I'm glad everyone was able to get such a blessing out of these verses as I was. Fran, I am so happy you commented!! We hope to be seeing a lot more from you in the future! :-)
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