HEARTS AND MIRACLES (10)

“I have COMPASSION on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat” – Matthew 15:32b                               

When God opens the Eyes of our HEARTS to see the pain of hurting humanity, we become Emissaries of Healing and MIRACLES: “Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have COMPASSION on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way” (Mt.15:32b). This is the second Miracle of Multiplication – Jesus feeding thousands – in Matthew (Yesterday’s devotional considered 14:13-21). Such repetition connotes significance. Jesus models for us the qualities of COMPASSION and ACTION. He didn’t stop at feeling sorry – emotions of sympathy or pity. He did something. We should take that example. Our love for God compels us to see and meet the needs of those around us.

Both instances of divine multiplication seem to be similar: Jesus multiplied loaves and fish; the disciples were sceptical; a multitude was fed; and they collected leftovers. However, some clear differences nullify any notion that they were the same: The crowds varied in sizes; the disciples spoke first in the first miracle, but Jesus did here in the second; they occurred in distinct locations; they followed different events; the numbers of loaves and fish differed; the numbers of baskets differed; the baskets themselves were different; and finally, Jesus spent one day with the 5,000, but three days with the 4,000. The Lord Himself referred to them as two different miracles. He mentions the different numbers of people present at the two events, the varied leftover baskets of fragments and their sizes (Mt.16:9-10; Mk.8:19-21).

This wonderful story offers some lessons, first of which is that our love for God compels us to compassionately and actively love those around us. Jesus called the disciples to Himself, not because He needed answers about the food problem, but to test and train their Faith (v.32). They promptly expressed scepticism about feeding the crowd. What made this even more incredible was that they were just with Jesus when He fed the 5000. Their expressed disbelief revealed their heart: “Where could WE get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” (v.33b). Even before Christ could ask, they said that “we” cannot provide! Granted, we of ourselves have the means to do little for God, we are to strive to do what we can, and factor in God’s Power as the primary means to accomplish anything.

We sometimes convince ourselves that God cannot work in a place because it is too hard a location, whereas harsh or limiting conditions cannot obstruct His ordained work. His power overcomes all difficulties. Sometimes we let the size of the crowd devalue God and become an obstacle to our faith. At times, even Believers go along with the majority; and thus, go against their consciences, damaging their faith and conviction. Yet, Jesus still invited the disciples to participate with Him: “And he took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to HIS DISCIPLES, and the disciples gave to the multitude” (v.36). He is so gracious to invite us to participate. The sacrifice of the little they had, multiplied by their faith – obedience and willingness to share, produced Miracles of Multiplied Blessings!

We often use the excuse of not having or not having enough to justify why we can’t obey the call for sacrifice, as if our offerings of time, talents, abilities, and resources are not great enough. In the hands of Jesus, our ordinary becomes extraordinary; our little becomes great. We cannot imagine what potential miracles we miss out on because we don’t accept the gracious invitation to bring our little to the Lord! How do we fair? Are we of doubtful, disbelieving, or trusting hearts? Miracles and signs of God’s Goodness mark our lives and continue to manifest daily, but our limited expectations could blind us from accepting His invitation to participate with Him in manifesting miracles.

It’s time to arise in our HEARTS as Emissaries of Healing and MIRACLES to hurting humanity!