April 20, 2017: Believing

Today’s Bible Reading: Judges 17-18, Psalm 89:19-52, Mark 8:1-13, 1 Corinthians 13 Mark 8:1-13: Again they gather—a great crowd—and they have nothing to eat. This time Jesus’ miraculous feeding of them is through seven loaves and a few fish. But the end result is basically the same. The hungry are fed. This “feeding of the four thousand” is another miracle pointing to Jesus’ divinity. Sometimes it can feel as if we have no resources left to serve Jesus. It can feel as if we have nothing but seven loaves and a few fish to feed a great multitude. Let us remember that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. In Christ, and as his disciple, we are not promised that everything will be easy. But he does promise never to leave us or forsake us. And he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. Remarkably, in some ways the most astonishing evidence of Pharisaic blindness yet, the Pharisees come to him seeking for a sign from heaven. Jesus has just fed four thousand people with a few loaves and fish, and yet they are still asking him for a sign! No wonder Jesus “sighed deeply in his spirit.” This generation, this type of proud religious Pharisee, will not be able to see or find a sign or miracle however plainly given. We need ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to believe. And if we do not have these things, the most amazing miracles of God will still be hidden from us. God displays his glory today in creation (Psalm 19:1). God’s Word is perfect (Psalm 19:7). God has revealed himself in our conscience (Romans 2:15). God himself is revealed in the Son (John 1:18). But the blinded eyes of unbelievers prevent them from seeing (2 Corinthians 4:4), unless God’s Spirit reveals (1 Corinthians 2:10). We are the “walking dead” (Ephesians 2:1) until God, being rich in mercy, “made us alive” (Ephesians 2:4-5). Let us pray that God would work in our lives, and in the lives of our neighbors, friends, nation and world, through his great gospel. To receive God Centered Bible devotionals directly in your inbox, sign up here.]]>