Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Faith = Miracles

I've read the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 countless times, but I saw something today I had never seen in that scripture. The people had gathered along the hillside because they heard Jesus was nearby. They followed him everywhere he went. Jesus couldn't seem to get away to a solitary place and rest. When he saw the crowd, the Bible says he had compassion on them and went to see them. By this point, the disciples are worried because it is getting late and the people won't leave. The disciples ask Jesus to make an "announcement" of sorts and tell them to go home to eat. Then in Matthew 14:16, "Jesus replied, 'They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.'" Jesus knew the disciples were lacking faith, but he wanted to give them a chance at exercising it anyway. But the disciples whine anyway and say in Matthew 14:17, "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish." Another words, they were telling Jesus that same old line little Arnold used to say on the hit 80s television show, "What you talkin' bout, Willis?" Jesus knew what they were thinking and in verse 18, Jesus tells the disciples, "Bring them here to me."

Some people say miracles don't happen anymore. I disagree. I've witnessed too many of them. Granted, there have been some miracles I've prayed for that God didn't see fit to perform. But in reading the above scripture, God wants us to exhibit our faith FIRST. When He sees our faith, He is more likely to answer our prayers.

Whatever God has brought your way today, show your faith FIRST, then just wait for the miracle.

1 comment:

Tommy, Suzanne, and Mary Peyton said...

barbie~

speaking of miracles, i thought of you this morning...

i was listening to 93.5 - my usual station of choice to get me going in the morning. brad mcmullan was talking to russ and traci. he said that the governor of georgia had a time of prayer at the capitol asking God to bring the state rain. according to brad, there was no rain in the forecast. and then today, it was raining in georgia. he said that people were saying that "the weatherman/woman just got it wrong", but why can't people just acknowledge that God was showing them that He still performs miracles???

anyway......just wanted to share that. and mary peyton now knows who you are. we hear "look mama, look! it's barbie!". and she calls the little shivering snowman behind you "Christmas". i think anything wintery is Christmas to her.

we are still keeping you and william in our prayers!