Wednesday, May 15, 2013
By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo
Tête Dur Tête Dur
Mark 8:21 "Don't you understand yet?"
Tête Dur, Tête Dur. (In English "Hard Head, Hard Head") Regrettably, I heard these Cajun French words a few too many times growing up than I would like to admit. My dad often uttered these words to describe my "determined personality." Sometimes, he lightly knocked on my head as if to ask if I was really listening. That never seemed to help matters...
So what exactly did I do to elicit that response? Rather than learning from the mistakes of others or their processes to accomplish goals or tasks, I was determined to figure things out on my own. As a creative person, I often thought I could find a better solution. Sometimes, I did. Other times - rightfully so - I was dubbed "Tête Dur" simply because I refused to believe in the wisdom and life-experience of others. (Thankfully, I have changed.)
In Mark 8, we find 12 men that could have easily borrowed my "hard-headed" title. In this chapter, the disciples forgot to bring food on their journey. They only had one loaf of bread for all of them to eat. They began to argue with each other about having no bread. Finally, Jesus asked them in verse 17, "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?"
Jesus began to remind them of the time they fed the 5,000 with only five loaves of bread, and the other time they fed the 4,000 with seven loaves. Both times, there were leftovers!
Even knowing and having seen these miracles, the disciples still argued over whose fault it was that they had no food to eat. Tête Dur, Tête Dur!
How quickly do we forget the good and wonderful things that The Lord has done for us?!?
Matthew 6:31-33 commands that we "...do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 "But seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I challenge you today to seek God first and to emulate His ways rather than doing things in your own strength. After all, God is all-powerful! Our meager attempts could NEVER compare to His miraculous ways! God has proven Himself faithful time and time AGAIN!
Dear Lord, I thank You that according to Your Word, You will supply ALL of my needs. Thank You for Your unfailing love.
I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.
