Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 3:18
As noted in the post “Simply Believe”, Jesus helps individuals one on one because everyone is unique and that’s how best to meet the needs of people. A one size fits all approach is not the best way.
Churches, businesses, and organizations could learn much about meeting the needs of their members or customers by following this approach of balancing adaptabilitywith efficiency. To meet the needs of their members or customers one on one.
The best way is to follow God’s path. We can enroll in God’s school of wisdom and apply this wisdom in our life. The Bible is the text book to the course and Jesus is the example to follow. Here’s a video with these thoughts in mind: The Way by Jeremy Camp.
Simple ideas can result in amazing discoveries but many overlook the simple and had rather believe the complicated. Think about it: All the lyrics to songs and all the books written were formed from only 26 letters of the alphabet.
Reading in Mark 8:11-26, the Pharisees couldn’t accept the simple truth and always wanted to complicate things. They wanted a sign from heaven for Jesus to prove He was the Messiah but Jesus refuses because He had already given many signs yet they refused to believe.
Jesus warns the disciples to be aware of the Pharisees because they wanted life to be complicated. They didn’t want to believe and would always refuse to accept the truth even when plenty of evidence was provided. While going to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was trying to explain to the disciples that spiritual assets in life are of greater value the physical wants in life.
Think about it: we put so much of our effort into our physical needs. We work for income to buy food, housing, clothing, and vehicles. Then to cover loses, we buy insurance. But for spiritual assets, most do not give much effort. A few may spend 15, 20, 30 minutes per day attending to these resources. Most do not even spend this much!
Arriving at Bethsaida, a blind man was brought to Jesus. He spit on the man’s eyes and the man could partially see. Then Jesus put his hands on the man to fully restore his sight. The acts of Jesus are always appropriate to our needs. Sometimes we do not have our total spiritual sight at first. It take stages of growth as we journey through life to completely see spiritual truths.
One way to increase our ability to see spiritual truths is to document along the way. Write notes from our own experiences, our reading, sermons, and Bible study. Then we can refer back to these notes and reflect on how God was there to bring us through. We gain experience from the lessons learned along the way and can share with others to build their faith too!
This day with You Lord, increase our spiritual assets as we follow the Way. As we answer the question what are we seeking, the answer is from You because if we are seeking Christ, we are seeking who is most important for He has given the Way. The path as been laid and as we step ahead, You are with us along the Way. Amen
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:15-16
The post “Believe and Receive” gives an example to follow in having concern for others and their needs. Because of Jesus, we can have faith that there will be a never ending supply of food for the soul.
Let us worship with the song “I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe” and be thankful for our current provision and a future beyond our wildest dreams.
This day with God, we seek and we believe. We are thankful for His provision; grateful for all we receive. Reading today in Mark 8:1-10, again we are told that Jesus fed a large crowd of people with a very small supply of food. Remembering back a few chapters ago in Mark 6, five thousand were fed. The motive for Jesus’ feeding of the four thousand in this passage is compassion. Jesus initiates the action in this passage but in the feeding of the five thousand in Mark 6, action was initiated by the disciples.
If we compare the two experiences, we see that when the disciples initiated the action, there was greater efficiency. In the first occurrence, five thousand were fed with five loaves of bread and two fish. Twelve basketfuls were left. In today’s occurrence, four thousand were fed with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Seven basketfuls were left after everyone was satisfied.
Our attitude of concern and compassion for others adds to the power of faith because we are compelled to share with them this bounty of never ending food for the soul. The more faith we have as individuals, the greater the power as previous hopeless experiences stimulate our faith even more. It is a continuous renewable cycle as we constantly feed the heart and soul with the ultimate reward being eternal paradise.
The take away for me is to live our life with concern for others and their needs. Share food for the soul and build the bounty of never ending renewable power received from His Word, from music, from art, and nature. These unseen rewards are never depleted but continue to grow in our memories and are available to share with others so they can receive eternal blessings.
We face trials and tribulations in life on earth. There is despair, pain, drugs, alcohol, and problems with relationships but we can always be lifted up because there is the ultimate prize when we step out in faith. Believe that God will provide music for our ears, laughter for our souls, and a rainbow after every storm.
I remember one time, there was an amazing rainbow as I walked up to my office. It stretched from one end of the lake to the next. Below is a photo of the double rainbow I saw.
This day with You Lord, we are thankful for Your word today about feeding the 4,000. Help us follow this example so our attitude is one of concern for others and their needs. To know there is a bounty of never ending food for our souls. We call on You for help as we face trials in life and step ahead in faith knowing that there are huge dividends for sharing Your food for the soul with others. In You Lord, there are eternal rewards. Amen
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been reading the book of Mark. We learned in the post “Sticking To It” about never giving up. The people were skeptical of Jesus in His hometown since He came from a modest upbringing and they couldn’t get in their mind that Jesus was the Savior. It was a setback but Jesus kept pressing on. He took action by going to the other villages and getting help from His disciples.
We are thrown into the fire and face pressure each day. As the post “Choose What Will Last Forever” points out, we need to make the right choices in life. Rather than choosing to be liked by the world, let us choose the forever solid principles taught by Christ.
In the post “Unified for the Impossible”, some thoughts were shared about how Jesus organized with the twelve disciples to make what seemed impossible possible. The lesson for us is to continue this example of working together, applying our strengths, organizing, and sharing.
Within the post “Let Him In The Boat” is the thought that the first step is the hardest but each step after that provides more momentum. Let us gain momentum on a daily basis as we read God’s word, pray, and develop plans for a brighter future.
Studying and posting thoughts in the post “Reflecting On The Way”, discovered was that if we embrace grace and follow the Way, we grow in character so that every moment becomes a building block to accomplishment as we step ahead.
The take away from the post “Dilute What Pollutes” is that love comes before rules and regulations. Jesus is inside our heart so we can serve out of love rather than rules or regulations. Because of Jesus, the future is brighter as rules and regulations do not restrict us since we are free to live our lives according to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Explained in the post “Fulfilling Our Purpose Out of Love” is that Jesus’ ministry is not great because of the procedure but in the person of Christ who creatively used the sense of touch in healing a man who could not hear. Our obedience to Jesus has an effect on others so let us take special interest in others to creatively build them up and help them understand spiritual matters.
The reading plan below will be used to hold me accountable in sharing about God’s word over the next few weeks. As I share about my study, it’s important to have a plan. I’m thankful that Jesus is God’s plan for us and by accepting Christ as Savior; we have taken the steps necessary to make this day with God amazing!
Questions for Reflection
Mark 8:1-10 – What is Jesus’ motive in his action here? Who initiates the question of food? In what ways have you allowed previous hopeless experiences to stimulate your faith in God? How is Jesus’ attitude toward people and their needs an example for you?
Mark 8:11-26 – Why does Jesus refuse the Pharisees’ request? What warning does Jesus give? With what level of life are the disciples concerned? Do we need to look at reducing our efforts for our physical needs and increasing our efforts for our spiritual needs? If so, how can we take action? In healing the blind man at Bethsaida, what actions of Jesus are appropriate to the blind man and his needs?
Mark 8:27 through 9:1 – What two questions does Jesus asks and what answers are given? What new teaching does Jesus introduce? What hindrances to discipleship do you face? What can you do to keep your perspective clear? What promise does Jesus make?
Mark 9:2-13 – Why do you think, does Jesus take these three disciples with Him on the mountaintop? Is there a mountaintop experience you have that you would like to share? What does verse 7 underscore about Jesus’ identity?
Mark 9:14-29 – What are the disciples at the base of the mountain involved in when Jesus returns? What are the criterion for receiving the power needed to be effective? What insights have you gained from this case history to help you believe? What specific steps can you take to improve your prayer life?
Mark 9:30-41 – Why was there more emphasis on seclusion rather than being available to the people? What is Jesus’ concept of greatness? In what ways have you tried to become great? What characteristics of a servant attitude do you need to absorb into your daily living with your friend, neighbor, spouse, employer, employee, etc.? When have you been critical of others because they aren’t in your group or doing things your way?
Mark 9:42-50 – What thoughts and actions cause you to stumble? What can help cut away these thoughts and actions? What is the function of salt? What steps can you take to acknowledge the authority of Jesus in your life? What ideas do you have to impact others with values like humility and kindness?
Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of the questions above. Also, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas, favorite inspirational videos, photos, or favorite Bible verses. Just add them to the comments or to a Facebook page I’ve set up at this link: This Day With God.
Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts
Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God: A Daily Study Guide to the Entire Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1978. Print.
This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 