August 6, 2022 - Matthew 16-18

Going to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, the disciples realized they had forgotten to bring food. Jesus, sensing their anxiety, said to them, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves that that you have no bread? Did you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how baskets you gathered?” (16:8-10).

Jesus has already been down this road with these guys. No problem. But they seem either to have forgotten, or they’re lacking in faith. Why don’t they just say to Jesus, “We were not diligent. We did not plan well. We forgot to bring food. Will you help us?” This is not to make license for a lifestyle of slacking and always asking the Lord to bail us out. But we do need to remember and reflect on all God's good and bountiful provisions to us in the past. He has never failed us. He has always given us what we needed. We can trust him now, in the present.

New every morning is the love

our wakening and uprising prove;

through sleep and darkness safely brought,

restored to life and power and thought.

New mercies, each returning day,

hover around us while we pray;

new perils past, new sins forgiven,

new thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven. -- John Keble (1822)