Mark 6:51-52;Mark 8:14-21; Psalm 19
Rebecca Lightfoot
N Mark chapter 6,after He has fed 5000,Jesus walks on the water to the boat carrying his disciples & calms the headwind that was making it difficult for them to make progress.The disciples were “utterly astounded,for they did not understand about the loaves,but their hearts were hardened”(Mark6:51-52).The disciples had just seen Jesus take 5 loaves of bread & 2 fish...& turn them n2 enough bread & fish to feed 5000!But they “did not understand about the loaves”..they did not understand what Jesus was teaching&showing them about Who He Is&His Great Love...,so they did not yet know Jesus as GOD!They did not seek to let the significance of what they just experienced impact their understanding for WHO Jesus is!They let the awesomeness of what they just experienced go right by w/out rightly capturing it n their minds&hearts...and their hearts were hardened!Some days pass,& once again the disciples see Jesus turn a few loaves and fish n2 more than enough food 2 feed 4000.Afterwords,they r again in a boat w Jesus..HE is warning them/teaching them about corruption & evil!They totally “missed the boat” on what Jesus is warning/teaching about,& their hearts were hardened,and again they do not make the effort to capture n their minds&hearts what Jesus is revealing to them..they “Do not yet understand”(Mark8:14-21).When we do not seek 2 rightly understand what God has done through all He has created;revealed through His Word;& through only Christ has shown/taught/demonstrated 2 us n some way,we run the dangerous risk of our hearts becoming hard.Satan is fully aware of this,and he has been throwing all sorts of delusional/misleading tactics at humanity from the very 1st misleadingly of Adam&Eve.Satan has done & will do everything he can 2 rob us of having a right understanding of all GOD has done;is doing;& will do!For he knows not only the significance of what Jesus is urging into the lives of his disciples here,but he also knows the significance of this & the truths of Psalm19 for our lives(Psalm19, “The heavens are telling of the Glory of God;And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.Day to day pours forth speech,And night to night reveals knowledge.There is no speech, nor are there words,whose voice is not heard.Their voice goes out through all the earth,And their words to the end of the world.In them He has placed a tent for the sun,Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;It rejoices as a strong man to run his course w joy.Its rising is from the end of the heavens,And its circuit to the end of them;And there is nothing hidden from its heat.The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.The fear(Reverence)of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;The rules of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;In keeping them there is great reward.Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent of hidden faults.Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;Let them not rule over me;Then I will be blameless,And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight,O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”).When we do not seek 2 rightly capture/appreciate what God has has done&revealed through all creation&all life as Psalm19 describes,we will have our hearts hardened.& if we once had hearts receptive 2 God’s Glory & changed by God’s Glory revealed 2 us...if we wane from rightly capturing/appreciating God’s Glory revealed 2 us through Christ,we will fade from an intimate relationship w God our Father in Heaven.Dear Jesus,I am just like the men in the boat...missing so much of what You have revealed to me because of my not rightly capturing/appreciating what You have said and done.Please correct these issues n my mind/heart & life,& guide me&help me 2 know You n all the ways You reveal Yourself to me...& May Your Word b the “rules” that make these issues right&true n my life.