Read Psalm 62
Read Matthew 15
Do we struggle to believe that God provides? Matthew wants us to believe it - so much so that he includes the feeding of the 4,000 only a short space after the feeding of the 5,000 (it's the very next chapter the way our chapters fall).
What's notable about the feeding of the 4,000 is the reason why Jesus does this miracle. Really, it is an insight into his motivation for all his miracles. The crowd is clinging to his every word. They realize that it is good to be where Jesus is. They have received his healing touch and his gracious words with joy and thanksgiving. And now, after 3 days, they apparently did not have any food left.
And Jesus says, "I have compassion on them." Compassion is a powerful emotion, and Jesus "suffers with" them. He feels their hunger himself, and is moved to action. In the Greek, the word for compassion is the word for bowels or guts. Compassion is something you feel deep in your guts (sometimes we call it the "pit of our stomach"). Jesus feels this intense desire to reach out in love and help.
This is the same motivation that drove him to the cross. Even before he had a body and guts, the Son of God loved us and was obedient to his Father. Therefore he became incarnate. Then that love drove him bodily to suffer with humans. Soon that love would drive him to suffer even more. Instead of suffering with them, he suffered for them (and for us!) on the cross.
Jesus' compassion drove him to death. He provided for the forgiveness of all our sins. He provides us with eternal life and salvation.
And as we go along our way, we can be sure that he will provide for the needs of body and soul. As individuals, as families, as a church, we can trust firmly that as we carefully use his gifts, we will be there help, provide, stretch, multiply, whatever he is pleased to do. After all, he has compassion on his children as we live for him. He has compassion on the lost as we seek to reach out.
What Good News of a compassionate God! Praise be to him forever and ever.
Ask Yourself:
Does compassion motivate my choices and actions?
What comfort do I find knowing that Jesus has the same compassion on me?
How does this motivate my prayer life?
Pray:
Our Father
Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom
And the power
And the glory
Forever and ever.
Amen.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
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