Prayer Journal Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Scripture
Mark 8:17-21New Living Translation (NLT)
17 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? 18 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’[a] Don’t you remember anything at all? 19 When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”
“Twelve,” they said.
20 “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”
“Seven,” they said.
21 “Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.
Observation
Jesus told them to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. The Pharisees were self-righteous and Herod was self-indulgent. Both were motivated by self-interest and self-preservation. Interestingly, the disciples of Christ reacted to his statement in a similar manner. They argued among themselves about bread, defending themselves and justifying themselves. Jesus asked four pointed questions:
- Are your hearts too hard?
- Do you have eyes but can’t see?
- Do you have ears but can’t hear?
- Do you remember anything?
He then reminded them of the feeding of the 5000 and the 4000.
Application
Just as the Pharisees and Herod were worried about their own self-interest, the disciples fell into the same trap. Greed has two sides — What we want to have, and what we are afraid of loosing. The Pharisees had respected positions and honor from the people. Herod had a kingdom that he needed to protect. Both rejected to true way to God because of the greed that was in their hearts.
The disciples needed to learn that this “yeast” could spread to them as well. The very fact that they were defending themselves hardened their hearts and brought strife. They were in danger of being blinded by self-preservation, and unable to hear the message of Christ. They were also in danger of forgetting the works of Christ, and falling into despair.
Christ is the center of our salvation and everything we need. Because of His work, the need for self-preservation goes away. Look at the questions he asked the disciples: How many baskets were left over after 5000? Answer: twelve — a basket for each apostle. How many were left over after the feeding of the 4000? Answer: seven: the number of completion. The provision of Christ’s work is abundant, freeing us from the temptation of self-preservation and greed.
We need to watch out for the “yeast” that is motivated from self-reliance and not relying on the work of Christ. There is no need for us to give in to our insecurities and be self-defensive. Christ is our abundant provider and He can be trusted.
Prayer
Lord help me to avoid the “yeast” of self-preservation and greed. Help me to see that You can be trusted and I don’t need to preserve my positions or my rights. You are an abundant provider and You freely provide all that I need, physically and spiritually. Help me to remember all You have already done.
