SCRIPTURE: Mark 6
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith. [Mark 6:5-6] Why do some people experience miracles, and others do not? I believe miracles are happening all around us, but not everyone sees them (many do not). If we do not expect them, if we are not open to them, if we rationalize everything that doesn’t fit our understanding, we will not experience them. In the end, it is a lack of faith!
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that a sick person who prays to get well and doesn’t, did not have enough faith. THAT miracle may not occur, but miracles will happen around them still – just not the ones they wanted or expected. God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine [Ephesians 3:20-21], and I think He usually does – more than we ask or imagine. We want what we ask or imagine, but He does more. And despite what we think, His answer is better.
Mark 6 is filled with the ordinary and the extraordinary! Jesus can’t perform miracles in His hometown, for some reason they are not open to Him. His disciples heal people and cast out demons (wow!). John the Baptist cannot get free from prison, but is beheaded instead (lack of faith?). Great crowds are fed with limited bread and fish (more than the disciples asked or imagined!). The disciples cross the sea by boat, Jesus by foot. Crowds gather to be around this amazing, unusual, unpredictable miracle worker.
I believe Jesus can do so much more than I ask or imagine. The problem for me is not Jesus’ limitations, but mine. I limit Him to what I ask or imagine. I refuse to see the miraculous all around me – God moments, chance encounters, coincidences (or God-incidents), unexpected gifts, heart changes in others, unplanned circumstances. I forget to see His hand behind these things. How many miracles have I participated in, yet not understood or appreciated? They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. [Mark 6:52]
Do we limit the God we love? Do we disregard all that He does, only focusing on what He did not do? Could He do so much more, if our hearts were more open to Him?
PRAYER:
Lord, I love You, and I limit You. I want to see more, to appreciate what You do all around me. May I see more miracles today!
Their hearts were hardened and did not understand. They did see however. Our seeing must also become our believing. Where did I/will I see Jesus this day?
The hometown people took offense. His disciples did many great thongs in His name. Five thousand were fed. People flocked to Him, hungering for more. Jesus walks on water . . . but the hearts were not attuned to the Lord. Bad reception. Ears they have but do not hear and eyes they have and do not see. Hardened hearts. Set in their own way hearts.
I need to see Jesus and bring all of me to Him. I am safe and secure in His arms. He is my Guide this day as I walk/work in my journey of joy. That is only possible with Him. Without Him I am nothing. I must
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” -John Wesley – thanx Karen
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
I am looking, I am listening
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Help me to know Your will (repeat)
The right word to say,
the best move to make
Who’s in need of a helping hand
For Your perfect ways are worthy of praise
I delight just to do Your plan
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
I am looking, I am listening
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Help me to know Your will
Help me to know Your will
Help me to know Your will