Mark 8:14-21 (c.f. Matt 16:5-12)

They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then He commanded them: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”

They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened? Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect? ”

“Twelve,” they told Him.

“When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect? ”

“Seven,” they said.

And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet? ”

The disciples forgot to bring sufficient bread. Jesus began to talk to them about something completely unrelated to their having forgotten to bring bread but they tie the two together because of a lack of understanding. He wanted to talk to them about the false teachings of the Pharisees and of Herod, but when they changed to talking about having no bread He switched to that topic to teach them about His being able to provide. Jesus wanted them to know that He could provide food no matter how little they had with them. As a matter of fact the less they have the better because His provision is far more than sufficient. He fed 5000 with only five loaves and two fish with twelve baskets leftover whereas He fed 4000 with seven loaves and a few small fish with only seven baskets leftover.

I must learn that GOD's provision is perfect. The more I try to do the providing for myself the less I have. However, the less I try to put in by my own strength the more GOD puts in and the more I have. With GOD less is more. That's much more easily said than done though. For this to happen it means I must surrender control of my life to Him. I may not be a complete control freak but I definitely have a hard time surrendering control all the time. I may not say in words that I need to help GOD out with something but the way I act sometimes shows that that's the way I am thinking. The more I surrender the more He provides. The more He provides the more glory He gets. I must cease resistance to GOD and submit to His authority so that He will be glorified in my life.

GOD of patience and provision, You are far more glorious than I could ever imagine. Your majesty not only fills the heavens but also time and space. Please forgive me when I try to take control of my life from You. Please teach me how to surrender to You and allow You to have the run of my life. My life is really Yours anyway since You gave it to me. You are Life and therefore the more I surrender to You the more life I have. I will never be able to do this on my own. Please help me to see this more clearly so that I may surrender to You more and more each day till there is nothing left of me in me but only You. All glory be Yours forever in the name of Jesus amen.

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