by Wesley Blackburn
So now, things are in motion. Jesus has been betrayed into the hands of those who hate them most. God's plan for salvation for the entire world is now seeing it's final moments before completion. But truly, even though Jesus knows that He is so close to accomplishing the will of the Father, it must feel so far away. He has yet to go through some excruciating pain and some surely testing emotional times.
But in the midst of this, what does Jesus do? He continues to submit to God's will and plan for His life, even if that means crucifixion. A lot of the time, I like to say that I want to live a life submitted to God and His will and plan for my life. But sometimes in my life, God's plan means pain, hardship, and testing. That's not something I am a fan of. And a lot of the time, that's when I suddenly choose not to submit.
But not Jesus, through thick and thin, He is committed and devoted to the plan of the Father. He is going to see it through to completion, even when that means pain and difficulty are involved for us.
So how about you? What is the situation in your life that you know God is calling you to, but maybe you're shying away because you know the commitment or difficulty involved? Have you fully submitted to the will of God, even when it's tough? That's one of the things I think that the cross asks us. And it's a question that I think we are obligated to answer.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
66. The Last Supper (Luke 22:1-46).
by Steve Butera
What a great passage this was to read and focus on, but like Wes and others have said, a very familiar one as well. The problem with familiar is that we begin to lose sight of the details and look at the passage as a big concept like “The Last Supper.” I took this as an opportunity to take the advice of Pastor Greg and S-L-O-W down. I looked at the context, author’s intent, background, key words and genre. I have to tell you that really does make a difference. I also prayed and expected to hear from God.
This passage was written by Luke, a Gentile physician who traveled extensively with Paul, around 60 A.D. Luke wrote this Gospel after talking with several eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, almost like a journalist. He gave dates and times, and provided the only account of Jesus’ childhood years. What I focus on is the fact that he was a Gentile. It reminds me that God uses anyone from any background. Anyway, on to the Scripture.
There is so much to talk about concerning this passage of Scripture that I’m almost speechless. I feel like it’s something we could talk about for quite awhile... like I can’t cover everything in this space here. Loosely broken down, it’s about Judas betraying Jesus, the last supper, Jesus predicting Peter’s denial of Him, and Jesus’ prayer on the Mount of Olives. But for me, I get caught up in a couple of things. I am struck by the fact that as a religious feast approaches, the minds of the high priests and religious scholars were on treachery. When Judas comes with his ideas of betraying Jesus they can’t believe their good luck. It’s really something how messed up we can get in our thinking; it's not so important how much religious knowledge we have or whether we perform all the correct religious behaviors. We can still engage in evil and be as far from God as ever.
Take Judas. To me, his story is heartbreaking. When you think about it, he was one of the 12 disciples. He was so close to Jesus, involved in His ministry, and privy to intimacy with Him and the other disciples. Would anyone ever imagine that this would be the guy who would betray Him for a bit of cash? What breaks my heart is that as soon as Judas betrays Jesus, he is aware of how wrong this was, is consumed with guilt, wants to give the money back [to which the priests say “buzz off.”], and he ends up killing himself. What a sad and terrible scenario.
Peter struggled also. He couldn’t imagine that he would deny Jesus. I’m sure he thought Jesus was just mistaken when he told him to “stay on his toes.” He was dedicated, loved Jesus, and was so bold from Him. Yet very shortly he was doing the very thing he thought he’d never do. How many times have I had my mind set that I wouldn’t do a certain thing one day and by the next day, I’ve done it? I think there is a warning here. Satan is always around trying to influence us, mess with our head, and lead us to believe things that are contrary to what Jesus has said. Unless we rely on Him and stay in relationship with him [pray, read His word, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit] we are going to fall… and sometimes fall hard. More than once in this passage, Jesus admonishes his disciples to “pray that you don’t give in to temptation.” Later He tells them “What business do you have sleeping? Get up. Pray so you won't give in to temptation.”
I am also struck by what is said in verse 37: “It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." This is a reference to Isaiah 53:12 which says “Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Wow! What has been said about Jesus is reaching its fulfillment!! What a cataclysmic, wonderful, incredible, amazing time. I mean like freak out! God is doing something so intensely, hugely BIG that will forever change things. THE CROSS. Jesus is going to pour himself out for us. It’s hard, really, to convey the level of excitement and gratitude that I have about this. Words just don’t do it.
There are so many things the Cross of Christ means for us that it is difficult to express all that is felt. Our sin debt is paid, we are given eternal life, we are brought into relationship with God, a new covenant is established, sin is overcome, death is overcome, stripes were taken on His back for our healing, we have in intercessor advocating on our behalf, and we receive power through the Holy Spirit. Everything written about Jesus is coming to a conclusion. Amazingly, this is a gift. We only have to receive it. How incredible is that?
The life of Jesus is something He lives through us, powered by the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to do it on our own. In fact, we can’t. When you think about Judas and Peter, you realize the spiritual forces as work and see that overcoming sin is not accomplished through willpower alone. It is clear; we can have every determination and invoke our will, only to fail a minute later. No, looking to the cross is the only answer. Through Jesus and His work on the cross, we have victory over sin and death. That’s why knowing Him, staying intimate with Him, and understanding what His word says is the only way to maintain your faith in what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Thank God, thank God, thank God! So when we take communion, let’s remember EVERYTHING that we have through the cross and Christ’s finished work upon it. Glory to God!
Friday, August 27, 2010
65. Raising Lazarus from the Dead (John 11:1-57).
by Wesley Blackburn
My best friend is a guy named C.J. Stephens. C.J. and I met in college, and we were roommates for a year before he got married. I was the best man in his wedding a few years ago. After graduating last spring, C.J.'s now the worship minister at a place called Milford Christian Church in Ohio. This year, as I go back and forth from the Region to Cincinnati, Ohio every week to finish up some classes for school, I'll be staying at C.J. (and his wife Ami's) home in the Cincinnati area.
It might sound kind of morbid to say, but I don't know what I would do if my friend C.J. died. Obviously, it'd be a tragedy since he's only 22, but even beyond that, just as a friend, I really value his presence in my life. I know I'd get emotional. It would be a huge loss, even though I would be happy because I know C.J. would be in a much better place.
That's kind of what I imagine Jesus feeling and experiencing in this story. One of his best friends, a man named Lazarus, had died, and Jesus was quite moved by the sight. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible, but is packed with incredible meaning: "Jesus wept." Sometimes we have this tendency to see Jesus as a man who was only concerned with very "spiritual" or "religious" matters. But Jesus was a man of incredible passion and emotion as well. Jesus had a heart, that's for sure. I don't know that anyone could ever make an argument otherwise.
But beyond showing us Jesus' incredible emotion and care for those He loves (good news: that's all of us), it shows us some other stuff. Number one, Jesus has power over all things... even death. Over the past century, we've seen a lot of advancements in the medical world. A person's average life span here in the United States is over 70 years. But even with all those advancements, I don't hear anyone saying that we'll be skirting death anytime soon. But Jesus can. Just ask Lazarus.
I think the other thing that this passage shows us is what faith looks like. As Jesus came to Lazarus' home, he was met by Lazarus' sister, Martha, who said that she wished Jesus would have been there, so Lazarus wouldn't have died. But then, she utters an incredible statement of faith: "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask" (John 11:22). Do we really believe that like Martha? In her context, Lazarus was dead... and dead people don't normally come back from that condition. But even then, Martha still believed. She knew that Jesus was the Son of God and that He could do anything. Imagine the situations that we would quit fretting about if we truly believed that... that God can do anything we ask for, even when that's impossible. I know that there are a few areas of my life where my attitudes would probably change.
My best friend is a guy named C.J. Stephens. C.J. and I met in college, and we were roommates for a year before he got married. I was the best man in his wedding a few years ago. After graduating last spring, C.J.'s now the worship minister at a place called Milford Christian Church in Ohio. This year, as I go back and forth from the Region to Cincinnati, Ohio every week to finish up some classes for school, I'll be staying at C.J. (and his wife Ami's) home in the Cincinnati area.
It might sound kind of morbid to say, but I don't know what I would do if my friend C.J. died. Obviously, it'd be a tragedy since he's only 22, but even beyond that, just as a friend, I really value his presence in my life. I know I'd get emotional. It would be a huge loss, even though I would be happy because I know C.J. would be in a much better place.
That's kind of what I imagine Jesus feeling and experiencing in this story. One of his best friends, a man named Lazarus, had died, and Jesus was quite moved by the sight. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible, but is packed with incredible meaning: "Jesus wept." Sometimes we have this tendency to see Jesus as a man who was only concerned with very "spiritual" or "religious" matters. But Jesus was a man of incredible passion and emotion as well. Jesus had a heart, that's for sure. I don't know that anyone could ever make an argument otherwise.
But beyond showing us Jesus' incredible emotion and care for those He loves (good news: that's all of us), it shows us some other stuff. Number one, Jesus has power over all things... even death. Over the past century, we've seen a lot of advancements in the medical world. A person's average life span here in the United States is over 70 years. But even with all those advancements, I don't hear anyone saying that we'll be skirting death anytime soon. But Jesus can. Just ask Lazarus.
I think the other thing that this passage shows us is what faith looks like. As Jesus came to Lazarus' home, he was met by Lazarus' sister, Martha, who said that she wished Jesus would have been there, so Lazarus wouldn't have died. But then, she utters an incredible statement of faith: "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask" (John 11:22). Do we really believe that like Martha? In her context, Lazarus was dead... and dead people don't normally come back from that condition. But even then, Martha still believed. She knew that Jesus was the Son of God and that He could do anything. Imagine the situations that we would quit fretting about if we truly believed that... that God can do anything we ask for, even when that's impossible. I know that there are a few areas of my life where my attitudes would probably change.
64. Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man (Mark 5:1-20)
…by Kay Roberts
I have always been intrigued with the paranormal and their stories yet maintain a good healthy respect for what it really is. What amazes me, is each time there is mentioned in the Bible a story demons, is Jesus’ unwavering power and authority. These demons IMMEDIATELY recognize and KNOW who Jesus is and begin to BEG for His mercy. Notice in verse 13 of this passage, “He gave them permission…” Anyone knows that whoever is “granting permission” holds A LOT of authority so as I am reading this, it causes me to sit up and pay attention. What I am really thinking is that this Jesus is real because even the demons BELIEVE HIM to be God!!! So I should not dismiss Him or what He has to say or even what He can DO! He comes with power and authority. This is not a weak man.
As I continue through the reading, I come to the end where Jesus tells this man to go home and talk about all that the Lord has done for him after he has asked to go with Jesus. What do you think he shared with the people in Decapolis? What were his thoughts and emotions while being possessed? Once again, I am intrigued! His life has been RADICALLY changed and here are some cues we can glean from the passage about his former life:
1. He lived in the tombs. (Ewww! I don’t want to be living at the cemetery, do you???)
2. He lived alone. (How sad!)
3. No one could bind him because he broke EVEN the iron chains that bound him hand and feet. (This is code for NO ONE COULD HELP HIM!!!)
4. He cried out, night and day and CUT himself with STONES.(Seriously, that sounds painful…)
His radical change of life goes from one of extreme solitude and pain and things incomprehensible to us, to one of being HOME with his family (can you imagine the celebration of his return?!), being in his RIGHT mind, being in CONTROL of his body and simply being able to LIVE.
A couple things strike me:
1. This man does not hesitate to go and do what Jesus has asked.
2. I should be doing the same thing, sharing with everyone I know what Jesus has done for me!
We all have been radically changed by Jesus. We all have similar stories. The way we USED to be to the way we are now. This is why Jesus came. To radically change lives.
What’s your story? How has Jesus radically changed your life? Are you sharing your story of a radically changed life?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
63. Healing a Blind Man (John 9:1-41).
by Wesley Blackburn
In my years of Christian elementary, Christian middle school, Christian high school, and now Christian college, I've heard the story of the blind man from John 9 several times. But recently I was challenged to really think about it; to think through the characters in the story, to feel what they were feeling, and most of all, to see the utter hilarity and craziness of the entire thing. Truly, this is one of the funniest stories in the Bible.
But it all comes back to the simple fact that, as humans, we have this uncanny ability to believe what we want to believe, regardless of fact. Some people have said that about Christians; that we believe in the existence of God and the resurrection and miraculous ministry of His Son, Jesus, in the face of all obvious facts. I think, though, that Christians can make a very similar argument against their non-believing counterparts. This story is one such argument.
So, we discover that there is a man who had been blind from birth, and Jesus heals him. As the man came home seeing, his neighbors were astounded. They knew this guy was blind. Yet now he could see! Some just thought they had this guy confused with someone else, but the man himself spoke and said that, yes indeed, he once was blind and now could see. The people asked how this happened, and the man told them about Jesus and how he had restored his sight.
However, because this miracle was done on the Sabbath (a day where the Jews were allowed to do no work, apparently including miracles), the man was brought before Jewish religious leaders for questioning (those guys had to be real killjoys). They asked the obvious question, "How can you see?" Again, just as before, the man told these people about Jesus and how his sight was restored.
But these religious leaders weren't buying it. In fact, John 9:18 tells us that they thought the man was lying about being blind! So the man's parents were brought in, and they confirmed that, yes indeed, this was their son, and sure enough, he had been blind from birth.
But at that point, the Bible divulges something that we probably knew all along anyway: the Jews had already decided that Jesus was not the Son of God that He claimed to be (John 9:22). In the face of all the facts right in front of them, the religious leaders refused to believe because they had already made up their mind. They would ask the man to give his testimony again, but he refused. He had already told them, and they had already refused to believe. Why tell them again?
Other than serving as a demonstration of Jesus' power over everything, I think this story punches home the point that we always seem to find a way of believing what we want to. But in these situations where we just stubbornly hold onto our convictions and beliefs, the message of Jesus to us a lot of the time is quite simply, "You're wrong." It sounds pretty mean, but I've discovered that sometimes, that's the most loving thing a person can ever tell me.
Maybe Jesus is trying to tell you that "You're wrong" about that grudge you just won't let go of.
Maybe you're tip-toeing down a path of sin, shame, and personal destruction, and Jesus is just politely saying, "You're wrong. Stop it."
Maybe you've continued to wreck your life time and time again and refuse to let Christ come and be your Lord and Savior. Again, maybe He's saying, "The way you're living is wrong. I've got something so much better."
Again, not a really nice or well-liked message. And I'm not saying that there are beliefs and convictions that you should just let go of (like my beliefs about Jesus being God, for example). But the fact is, if we ever want to go anywhere with God, at some point we're going to need to step up to the plate and admit to God that we've been wrong about a few things in our lives and that we need Him to come and show us the way. God won't gloat. He won't hold it over our heads. Just as politely and kindly as He showed us the error of our ways, He'll also kindly and politely show us the way we need to go as we follow Him.
"You're wrong." Sometimes, those are the two most loving words anyone has ever said to me.
In my years of Christian elementary, Christian middle school, Christian high school, and now Christian college, I've heard the story of the blind man from John 9 several times. But recently I was challenged to really think about it; to think through the characters in the story, to feel what they were feeling, and most of all, to see the utter hilarity and craziness of the entire thing. Truly, this is one of the funniest stories in the Bible.
But it all comes back to the simple fact that, as humans, we have this uncanny ability to believe what we want to believe, regardless of fact. Some people have said that about Christians; that we believe in the existence of God and the resurrection and miraculous ministry of His Son, Jesus, in the face of all obvious facts. I think, though, that Christians can make a very similar argument against their non-believing counterparts. This story is one such argument.
So, we discover that there is a man who had been blind from birth, and Jesus heals him. As the man came home seeing, his neighbors were astounded. They knew this guy was blind. Yet now he could see! Some just thought they had this guy confused with someone else, but the man himself spoke and said that, yes indeed, he once was blind and now could see. The people asked how this happened, and the man told them about Jesus and how he had restored his sight.
However, because this miracle was done on the Sabbath (a day where the Jews were allowed to do no work, apparently including miracles), the man was brought before Jewish religious leaders for questioning (those guys had to be real killjoys). They asked the obvious question, "How can you see?" Again, just as before, the man told these people about Jesus and how his sight was restored.
But these religious leaders weren't buying it. In fact, John 9:18 tells us that they thought the man was lying about being blind! So the man's parents were brought in, and they confirmed that, yes indeed, this was their son, and sure enough, he had been blind from birth.
But at that point, the Bible divulges something that we probably knew all along anyway: the Jews had already decided that Jesus was not the Son of God that He claimed to be (John 9:22). In the face of all the facts right in front of them, the religious leaders refused to believe because they had already made up their mind. They would ask the man to give his testimony again, but he refused. He had already told them, and they had already refused to believe. Why tell them again?
Other than serving as a demonstration of Jesus' power over everything, I think this story punches home the point that we always seem to find a way of believing what we want to. But in these situations where we just stubbornly hold onto our convictions and beliefs, the message of Jesus to us a lot of the time is quite simply, "You're wrong." It sounds pretty mean, but I've discovered that sometimes, that's the most loving thing a person can ever tell me.
Maybe Jesus is trying to tell you that "You're wrong" about that grudge you just won't let go of.
Maybe you're tip-toeing down a path of sin, shame, and personal destruction, and Jesus is just politely saying, "You're wrong. Stop it."
Maybe you've continued to wreck your life time and time again and refuse to let Christ come and be your Lord and Savior. Again, maybe He's saying, "The way you're living is wrong. I've got something so much better."
Again, not a really nice or well-liked message. And I'm not saying that there are beliefs and convictions that you should just let go of (like my beliefs about Jesus being God, for example). But the fact is, if we ever want to go anywhere with God, at some point we're going to need to step up to the plate and admit to God that we've been wrong about a few things in our lives and that we need Him to come and show us the way. God won't gloat. He won't hold it over our heads. Just as politely and kindly as He showed us the error of our ways, He'll also kindly and politely show us the way we need to go as we follow Him.
"You're wrong." Sometimes, those are the two most loving words anyone has ever said to me.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
62. Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-36).
by Andy Kaser
It’s so easy to see the ‘bad’ in a story. It’s pretty easy for me to remember the dumb moves that a Bible hero made. It pretty much marks them for life, or in their case, thousands of years!
Take for example Peter. I call Him ‘pipe up Peter’ because on numerous occasions he was quick to speak and slow to listen. In today’s passage we find Peter about to do something that no one has ever done before (except Jesus of course). Think about it, in this story he sets a record…he makes history. It’s a feat that has never been done since. He walks on water.
The reality is we can focus on his rebuke or his faith. No doubt he took one for the team, because his mistake in the story allows us all to learn a valuable lesson about trusting Jesus.
I invite you to pause and read the story in Matthew 14:22-36. So what did you think? I guess I’d just like us not to consider his incredible faith to ‘get out of the boat.’ No one else jumped in the water. No one else had a fraction of the faith that he had. No one else was as passionate about the embrace of Jesus as Peter was. So it begs a question for our soul. Are we missing out on chances to express our faith (albeit small)? Are we missing out on chances to passionately pursue Jesus because doing so is a huge risk? Are we so afraid of failure or shame that we never take a step into the unknown?
I think there is more tragedy in times we fail to move than in the times we move and fail. What if in the economy of God His measurement of joy is found in taking the first steps toward greatness, and not in how well we stood after taking that step? Don’t get me wrong. It matters how we finish. But it also matters that we have the faith and passion to take the step toward Jesus without knowing any of the answers prior to it.
Is Jesus asking you to come to Him? He is. And what really matters is that you get out of the boat.
It’s so easy to see the ‘bad’ in a story. It’s pretty easy for me to remember the dumb moves that a Bible hero made. It pretty much marks them for life, or in their case, thousands of years!
Take for example Peter. I call Him ‘pipe up Peter’ because on numerous occasions he was quick to speak and slow to listen. In today’s passage we find Peter about to do something that no one has ever done before (except Jesus of course). Think about it, in this story he sets a record…he makes history. It’s a feat that has never been done since. He walks on water.
The reality is we can focus on his rebuke or his faith. No doubt he took one for the team, because his mistake in the story allows us all to learn a valuable lesson about trusting Jesus.
I invite you to pause and read the story in Matthew 14:22-36. So what did you think? I guess I’d just like us not to consider his incredible faith to ‘get out of the boat.’ No one else jumped in the water. No one else had a fraction of the faith that he had. No one else was as passionate about the embrace of Jesus as Peter was. So it begs a question for our soul. Are we missing out on chances to express our faith (albeit small)? Are we missing out on chances to passionately pursue Jesus because doing so is a huge risk? Are we so afraid of failure or shame that we never take a step into the unknown?
I think there is more tragedy in times we fail to move than in the times we move and fail. What if in the economy of God His measurement of joy is found in taking the first steps toward greatness, and not in how well we stood after taking that step? Don’t get me wrong. It matters how we finish. But it also matters that we have the faith and passion to take the step toward Jesus without knowing any of the answers prior to it.
Is Jesus asking you to come to Him? He is. And what really matters is that you get out of the boat.
Monday, August 23, 2010
61. Feeding the Five Thousand (Luke 9:1-36).
by Diane Jackowski
Jesus begins a new phase of his ministry by multiplying his efforts. He’s not just going out to preach and teach the gospel; He now is sending out his apostles to preach about the kingdom of heaven. He tells them to go find places where they are welcome and if not, to shake off the dust and move on. There’s been a lot of talk around Suncrest about going out and being the light amoungst our friends, families, neighborhoods, workplaces and just in our lives in general... being the light and being used by God to do His work and to be different than the people of this world.
How many times have you tried that? It’s pretty dang hard. Well, at least it is for me because I like results! I’m in San Diego, California on vacation with my family right now and we’ve been visiting with old friends and co-workers of mine. It’s been a great time, but pretty disheartening with so many broken relationships, marriages, losses of jobs, and just brokenness in general. How come the world can’t see how different I am? Why aren’t they asking me? Can’t they see? I’m wondering how long before I should shake the dust off and move on from these relationships or if I should just stay and allow God to do the work through me? And then I remember it’s up to Him and to them to decide to see Christ’s redemptive mercy, grace and forgiveness. I love that!
So that means I am home free, right? Or am I? God has called each of us personally to keep pursuing Him and building a relationship with Him. Most likely, that means pursuing relationships with others and that requires action even with no results at times, or visible and tangible results. Ugh! So, then, I have to stop thinking about me and that’s so hard sometimes.
But getting back to our story for today, the apostles come back to Jesus to tell Him of what happened and then they retreated together. How cool would it be to be able to go back and retreat with Jesus and get His recommendations face to face? Of course, crowds followed and in the moment that his disciples doubted His great and amazing power, Jesus gets ready to do an incredible miracle. His apostles did the normal thing all of us would think to do... they suggested going back to the villages to find enough food for the 5000 people that had followed them to Bethsaida. But Jesus had other plans. He held up the fives loaves of bread and two fishes to heaven and BOOM! How much more proof do we need to know how much power Christ has and how much His power flows through us when we choose to follow Him daily? Through Him all things are possible and as long as I keep praying for the people in my life that don’t know Him and pursuing a relationship with them, then maybe their eyes will be open to knowing the Most High. Should I pray for results? Just kidding!
Jesus begins a new phase of his ministry by multiplying his efforts. He’s not just going out to preach and teach the gospel; He now is sending out his apostles to preach about the kingdom of heaven. He tells them to go find places where they are welcome and if not, to shake off the dust and move on. There’s been a lot of talk around Suncrest about going out and being the light amoungst our friends, families, neighborhoods, workplaces and just in our lives in general... being the light and being used by God to do His work and to be different than the people of this world.
How many times have you tried that? It’s pretty dang hard. Well, at least it is for me because I like results! I’m in San Diego, California on vacation with my family right now and we’ve been visiting with old friends and co-workers of mine. It’s been a great time, but pretty disheartening with so many broken relationships, marriages, losses of jobs, and just brokenness in general. How come the world can’t see how different I am? Why aren’t they asking me? Can’t they see? I’m wondering how long before I should shake the dust off and move on from these relationships or if I should just stay and allow God to do the work through me? And then I remember it’s up to Him and to them to decide to see Christ’s redemptive mercy, grace and forgiveness. I love that!
So that means I am home free, right? Or am I? God has called each of us personally to keep pursuing Him and building a relationship with Him. Most likely, that means pursuing relationships with others and that requires action even with no results at times, or visible and tangible results. Ugh! So, then, I have to stop thinking about me and that’s so hard sometimes.
But getting back to our story for today, the apostles come back to Jesus to tell Him of what happened and then they retreated together. How cool would it be to be able to go back and retreat with Jesus and get His recommendations face to face? Of course, crowds followed and in the moment that his disciples doubted His great and amazing power, Jesus gets ready to do an incredible miracle. His apostles did the normal thing all of us would think to do... they suggested going back to the villages to find enough food for the 5000 people that had followed them to Bethsaida. But Jesus had other plans. He held up the fives loaves of bread and two fishes to heaven and BOOM! How much more proof do we need to know how much power Christ has and how much His power flows through us when we choose to follow Him daily? Through Him all things are possible and as long as I keep praying for the people in my life that don’t know Him and pursuing a relationship with them, then maybe their eyes will be open to knowing the Most High. Should I pray for results? Just kidding!
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