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Greetings!
I woke up Monday morning in a resort called Beaver Creek just outside of Vail, Colorado. I am officially telecommuting and decided to start the day with a mountain bike ride up the mountain. It was a gorgeous summer day in the Rockies with a gentle breeze pushing through the aspens and wildflowers in bloom. You could say I was roughing it but that would be a lie.
The ride quickly turned from a picturesque jaunt to a "ride for life". I underestimated the altitude on my climb up to 11700 feet. I was under duress and began to pray. It is interesting thing when an athlete prays. Most of the time athletes pray when they are hurting and not finished with their game, ride or event. I was praying for strength and perseverance.
Earlier that morning, I started the day reading Matthew 14 and the story of Jesus walking on water, feeding the multitude and healing the multitude. I began to run the story through my head in hopes it would be a distraction to the lung I coughed up on the trail. I was comforted by the story of Jesus feeding the multitude with only a few loaves of bread and two fish.
In the story, Jesus' disciples ask Him to dismiss the multitude to get dinner. Jesus instructs His "boys" to make it work and provide food for the crowds. The disciples are dismayed, "we only have food for a few". Jesus instructs them to bring it over and begin to fill baskets and then distribute the food. They did and there was enough for all. There is a principle here that is a great life objective and that is to bring what you have to God and allow Him to turn it into a miracle ... trust, faith and courage! |
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The compassion that motivates Jesus
14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food." 16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." 17 And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." 18 He said, "Bring them here to Me." 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
~ Matthew 14:14-21 ~
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Press through for victory
I love the beginning of the story that details the motivation of Jesus, "He was moved with compassion for them." Did you know he is the same yesterday, today and forever? Jesus is still motivated by compassion for our souls. He loves us and is moved with compassion to minister in our lives. The story of the loaves and fish is laced with the principle that trust and faith and obedience to God is the doorway to the miraculous and God's provision.
As I was riding up the mountain, I was comforted by the thought that God is interested in what I do and that he is moved with compassion to assist me when I will simply trust and obey in faith. So, as I rode onward and upward I simply thought about the goodness and grace of God. And, I made it to the top ... tired and spent but blessed.
My ride is symbolic of life. Sometimes it is just hard. You set goals and strive to reach them but often come up against obstacles, suffering and discouragement. The Jesus of the loaves and fish is there for you in times like these as well as the good times. It is our responsibility to listen to God and follow His instructions. Just like the disciples, we need to bring what we have to Jesus and allow Him to touch it and make it divine.
May all your "rides" be blessed as you follow Jesus on the journey! Remember, child-like faith and trust and obey. Your outcome may not be miraculous but it will bless God and your life.
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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