MORNING MANNA 8-6-21
A LESSON FOR US
“In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:”- Mark 8:1-2
Sermons on this story usually put all the emphasis on what Jesus did and the part the disciples played. But there is something else here that deserves our attention. I’m talking about the 4,000 who were following Jesus. By following Him for 3 days and continuing to do so when they were without provisions they demonstrated a great desire to be with Jesus and to hear him.. Sure, some might have just been curious or hoping to see a miracle, but whatever their motive I find that amazing. Give them some credit, they were determined.
That’s quite different from what we see with church members today who can’t wait for the service to end promptly at noon so they can beat the crowd and eat lunch. Evidently such people lack an appetite for God’s Word, and fail to see the benefits of it. Then they wonder why they don’t have the power to resist temptation or bear up under hard trials. They speak of “the Lord’s Day”, but give Him no more than an hour. We might be shocked if we knew how little some people care about spiritual things. Some enjoy attending church because of the fellowship with others or the music, but when it comes to serious Bible study, challenging sermons, and Spirit led worship they have little or no interest. Such people have no idea what they are missing and don’t really care to be told. They don’t understand that the neglect of God’s Word leaves them lacking what they desperately need and God alone can provide.
Notice that those in our text “came from far” ( vs. 3), and that was at a time when travel wasn’t easy. They also stayed when they were without food. And they were rewarded for their desire to be with Christ. They were weary and hungry, but without any complaint or begging Jesus provided their need. For me, it is exciting to see people so excited about hearing God’s Word.
However, as thrilling as this is, the most remarkable thing about this story is the compassion of Christ. It’s interesting that although their greatest need was spiritual food Jesus used physical food to provide it. He fed them lest they “faint” (collapse) and miss what they needed. That should remind us that compassionate deeds can open the door for us to minister to the spiritual needs of others. May God help us to be concerned about the welfare of others. We can’t work miracles, but we can provide a meal or do something to bring people under the sound of God’s Word. And that’s a big deal! Providing breakfast for someone or taking them out to lunch might seem like a minor matter, but it can bring a poor lost soul under the sound of the gospel. – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
