Mark chapter 8 verses 1-4 (NIV)
During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
Do we always learn our lesson? Here we see a situation that should have brought anticipation into the hearts of the Jesus’ disciples. They had seen Jesus feed five thousand men, and additional women and children with just five loaves and two fish. Commentators think it would have been about six months before this, so not too far back in their memories. Yet based on the way that the disciples responded to Jesus, it doesn’t appear to come to their mind.
We shouldn’t be too critical of the disciples. Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation that we have come across before. Do we stand on what God has done for us in the past or is our memory of His intervention as short-term as the disciples? Perhaps Jesus was testing them? I wonder if He was disappointed at their response. I hate the thought that I too may have disappointed Jesus by not standing on what He has done for me. This is a reminder for me to ponder on and remember God’s hand on my circumstances so that I can easily bring it to mind and stand on it at a future time.
Dear Lord,
I am grateful for all the times that You have undertaken for me. Help me to remember all that You have taught me through the circumstances I have encountered and forgive me for all of the times I have forgotten about the way You have intervened. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.