Don't be Stupid, Connect the Dots

S - Mark 6:46-52 (NIV): "After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened."

O - How did the disciples miss the obvious implications of Jesus' person and power via the loaves and fishes?  While walking on water is amazing, the text says they were "completely amazed" … which came only after being completely terrified. The Greek for completely amazed indicates an extreme which borders on insanity.  The term for hardened means to petrify or be calloused, to make stupid. The word for "understood" (sunivhmi: to set or bring together, to comprehend ) tells us they failed to connect the dots.  So, what was it that hardened their hearts and resulted in them missing this? Scripture does not tell us but I'm wondering if it was, at least in part, our constant assessing of possibility and probability; the degrees of difficulty.  The feeding of the five thousand was certainly improbable and difficult but walking on water would be exponentially more difficult.  Jesus doesn't think that way at all.  "Everything is possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23)."

A - This shows me (again) that even when thinking "theologically" I can have in mind the things of humans rather than the things of God.  I do assess degrees of difficulty and probability.  I do think about inevitabilities and how things work on earth, the patterns of occurrence.  It's not that I need to deny the normal workings on this planet, it is that I need to NOT be limited by them in my thinking, believing, praying, loving, acting and speaking because of Jesus and in my relationship with Jesus.  Today, with God all things are possible.  Today, as a recipient of so many miraculous happenings, I need to start with Jesus and keep my little mind and heart near him for whom nothing is too difficult, impossible or too wonderful.  He says to me and to all "don't be afraid, merely believe."  I say to me and to all don't be stupid, connect the dots J.

P - Lord of all and Lord of me,

Thank you for your willingness to keep acting, to keep loving, to keep showing mercy even when I fail to connect the dots.  Thank you for always remembering that I am frail as breath and just dust and for never forgetting to be merciful.  Today I need to think differently, to change the way I think because you are near!  Lord, help me start and stay in that nearness and beauty where everything is possible even when things aren't going as I had hoped because you are yet working everything for good.  I admit that you are purposeful in everything you cause AND in everything you allow.  Lord Jesus, today while it is called today I get to/need to change my thinking because you and your kingdom are near.

Looking for dots to connect,

Steve