And He said to them, "It is written,'My house shall be called a house of prayer,’…”
Matthew 21:13 NKJV

Friday, December 3, 2010

Compassion and Miracles

Pastor Gary Stebbins, Church in the Rock - Melbourne

I find myself again reading in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) where much insight can be gained by looking at the life of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 14 we find the story of Jesus feeding five thousand men and women with a few loaves of bread and a couple of fishes. Jesus had been teaching a large number of people on a hillside. As the day grew later the disciples suggested to Jesus that it was time to send the people home because there was no food to feed them.

Jesus response was so characteristic of who He is. He said, “They do not need to go away.” Jesus is not into sending people away. Earlier in this passage it says that Jesus “felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” Jesus’ heart was and is to minister to people the life and love of God. It says that the place they were in was a “desolate place.” Many people today are in a desolate place and need a mighty touch from the God that has great compassion for them. His instructions to the disciples were, “You give them something to eat.” I believe Jesus’ desire is still what it was 2000 years ago, to minister to people through His disciples and followers.

In response to the disciples request to send the people away, Jesus instead has them sit down. He takes the few loaves and fishes that they have and, “looking up toward heaven,” He blessed the food and fed all 5000. The picture we see is Jesus looking up towards heaven in a physical sense and asking the Father to bless their meal. This was an outward picture of what Jesus had already done inwardly. I believe He had “looked up” toward His heavenly Father in the quietness of His own heart. Jesus never did anything He did not hear or see His Father doing. Out of His relationship with the Father, He knew it was the Father’s heart to minister to the people and to feed them. This was not an instantaneous decision that Jesus made. He had spent many hours praying and seeking the heart of the Father. Out of this relationship with the Father He was prepared for this moment. With eyes of faith He could see the Father feeding 5000 people.

As disciples of Jesus ourselves, we must learn to “look up toward heaven.” Not just as a physical act, but as a daily discipline, taking time to read and reflect on God’s Word, to pray, and to communicate with God regularly. Not just petitioning God, but spending time in His presence, becoming familiar with His heart.

Later on in this passage of scripture, after the people are fed and the disciples are sent away, Jesus “went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.” He had found the importance of spending time in the presence of the Father. It is in this place of “presence” that He developed the Father’s compassion for people and it is coming out of this place that He was able to minister God’s life to people.

What took place on that mountain side 2000 years ago was indeed a miracle in one sense. In another sense, it came out of a place of relationship with God, one developed by spending hours with Him “up on the mountain” praying. Many today live in a barren and desolate place and greatly need a touch from God. God is looking to empower those who will invest their lives in getting to know Him.

How about you?

Have you been to the mountain recently?

Do you “look up toward heaven” regularly?

The Father is waiting for us to come to Him so He can send us out into the world to be a witness and testimony of His incredible love.

Have you taken time to allow God to deposit in you His heart of compassion for people?

No comments:

Post a Comment