What benefit have you achieved from your experience with Jesus? Was your faith refreshed, reinvigorated and strengthened enough to encourage others seeking a touch from the Master? We will look at an example where Jesus’ disciples seemed to have struggled with evaluating a situation in spite of having witnessed miraculous actions by the Master in very similar circumstances before. Let’s try to learn from their experience.

DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2021-05-22
WRITTEN AT: Nassau, Bahamas

BY: Ed Algreen

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 8:1-4
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 1-2 One day about this time as another great crowd gathered, the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples to discuss the situation.
“I pity these people,” he said, “for they have been here three days and have nothing left to eat. 3 And if I send them home without feeding them, they will faint along the road! For some of them have come a long distance.”
4 “Are we supposed to find food for them here in the desert?” his disciples scoffed.

APPLICATION: I believe that you can read up on a doctor, or a banker, or a pastor all you want, but try speaking to one who sat under their care and you get to hear the heart of that professional. The reference could speak from experience. But does it work that way in Christianity? Why, look at the disciples and consider the first-hand experiences they encountered while working along with Jesus. Remember, Jesus had healed the sick; fed several thousand people from just one or two people’s lunch; opened the eyes of the blind; and from just a touch of His garment, people were healed. Try placing yourself in the shoes of the disciples. You heard Jesus say that all power was given to you to perform the same miracles and even greater. But feeling no greater power inside of you, there has always been doubt about those words of Christ. In fact, Jesus Himself put your faith to the test by telling you that He wanted your cooperation so thousands of followers could again be fed miraculously from just what you and they had in your possession. You personally had fed your family before on very limited food, but thousands of people? Friends, this opened my eyes and heart to consider how much help I am to those whom God has called to a relationship with His Son. I’ve been in my relationship with Jesus for about 45 years, but I wonder if it is evident in my faith; in my witness; in my everyday walk; and in my answers to their questions. Do I encourage their decision to surrender their life to Jesus, or am I a stumbling block? I’ve read multiple times about the many miracles performed, but have I developed a strong faith to believe that He is still God, and could do the same thing even today? Or am I more like the disciples still wondering who could mend the ills of my friends, or save a wicked sinner like some unfortunately show in their behavior? Jesus said that if we had faith, the size of a minuscule mustard seed, we could command a mountain to move. I believe that I have faith, but do I permit myself to act on that faith, trust in God and believe that He could do ALL things through His children that believes, trusts and obeys Him? Not sure about you dear one, but I believe that my prayer should be for God to help me to apply the faith that He has already blessed me with. Many are looking for Jesus in His children who claim to belong to Him. Oh that others may see, and believe, as a result of their encounters with other believers and myself today. Allow me to suggest that faithful followers of Jesus Christ consider doing the same thing today. The world needs Jesus, and if we might help to influence and encourage them as they seek Him, God’s Kingdom will increase and He will be glorified!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus was well aware of the needs of the thousands who sat under His teaching, and He ordered the disciples to feed them. He also knows our needs today, and I believe that He will miraculously supply our needs also!

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus for placing us in a world where thousands still desperately need You as Lord of their lives. No doubt You have placed us here to feed Your Word to a hungry, hurting and desperate people. Please embolden us to simply tell our story, and in faith, believe that You will shine so much through our story, that friends will want to accept and know You personally. Oh that You may be lifted up oh God, as a result of others seeing You in our actions and through our words. AMEN!