“…and when He went ashore He saw a great multitude.”

Mark 6:31-34

The disciples had just returned from their circuit preaching and were reporting to Jesus. They were tired from their journeys and yet there was so much activity around them that they didn’t even have time to grab a bite to eat. Jesus recognized that it was time for rest, the disciples truly needed rest. Yet as they landed on the shore, hoping to get away by themselves for a time, they were met by the needy multitudes. Their well deserved and needed rest was withheld. Yet Jesus was not irritated, He and the disciples picked up again with their teaching and serving the crowds with compassion.

It seems to me that God gives each one of us a measure of common grace by which we are enabled to live our daily lives. Of course such grace is still entirely God dependant grace, for only in Him do we live, and breathe and have our being. Yet all of us have, in various degrees, a certain amount of daily strength to accomplish our work. If we rest, eat, and exercise properly we may have more strength than if we are sickly and weak. Nevertheless, we have a certain amount of personal strength to live. This kind of grace typically goes unnoticed and unacknowledged as grace.

But when we are brought to the end of our strength through weariness, God’s powerful grace becomes evident. Jesus knew the disciples needed rest, their personal strength was sapped. Yet God withheld their needed rest and instead gave them even more work. Jesus’ response was a beautiful example of faith, love, and confidence in God’s grace to meet every need.

When Paul seeks to point out the effect of God’s grace in his life he quickly recounts his trials, struggles, and weaknesses. He describes how he was brought to the utter brink, and how in those moments God’s grace was faithfully provided to help him during his most desperate hours. Paul identifies his weakest moments as the most grace filled moments and so he boasts in weakness because it brings attention to God’s strength.

So then my soul, what do you do what God withholds your rest, when you feel like you are at the end of your strength? Do you lie down before your flesh, grumble, complain, become irritated, and indulge in self pity? Will you deny God’s calling for you to serve with compassionate love because you don’t feel you have the strength to do it? Or will your heart rise in anticipation that now, in weakness, you might experience God’s grace more keenly? Will you rejoice because the working of God’s power will be more evident to you now your weakness? Perhaps God may glorify His grace through a miracle, for it was in such a time of dependence on God’s strength that the miracle of feeding the 5000 took place!

Don’t be downcast when you are tired, if God grants it, take your rest; but if He substitutes rest with more work, delight yourself in the occasion to depend God more deeply and be prepared to be blessed by seeing His strength made perfect in your weakness. Therefore be well content when overloaded, do not grumble. Look to the Lord and humbly receive His power.

Look at the connection between understanding the scriptures and understanding the power of God. The Sadducees were mistaken on both points, but these are probably not two points, but one. In order to understand the scriptures we must have in view the awesome power of God. Having such a view of God’s magnificence will open our eyes and our understanding of the scriptures, which will themselves then reinforce and strengthen our view of God as the almighty Lord of all.

Consider these scriptures, which connect to our view of God’s greatness with our perception of His Word, and the affect of God’s word in revealing His power to us…

“Establish Thy Word to Thy servant, as that which produces reverence for Thee.” Psalms 119:38

“Incline your ear year and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord…” Proverbs 22:17-19

“But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at my Word.” Isaiah 66:2

“But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have had their senses trained to discern good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14

“…like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” 1 Peter 2:2-3

Our view of God and our view of the Word are linked. One establishes the other. If we have a high view of God we will have a right understanding of the scriptures, and the scriptures will work properly for us to establish, strengthen, and reinforce our joy in the power of God. But if like the Sadducees, who belittled the scriptures with their self-exhausting theoretical conundrums, we maintain a low view of God, we will be mistaken and confused by the scriptures. The key ingredient then, which makes the scriptures work for us, so that we will have a proper understanding and a true view of God, is faith. Faith lays hold of the greatness of God and thereby reads, understands, and is strengthened by the Word of God. Faith reads the Word of God and sees, in and through it, the mighty power and awesome hand of the sovereign Lord.

Beware, O my soul, of having a low of view of God. If the unbelieving Pharisees and Sadducees marveled and were astonished by Jesus’ Words how much more should you tremble in amazement? Have faith in God. Ascribe strength and power to Him in your heart. Love Him with all your heart, soul and mind. Come to the word always with a humble God-centered awe and let it fortify and establish your faith in the Lord.

When the waves decide they want to roar, nothing on earth can stop them. When the ocean rages, stand back because nothing will hold back its force. When it storms the waves have a voice, a crashing exploding voice. The pounding of the waves is incessant, wave after smashing wave clamor and break upon the rocks of the shore. Nothing can stop the waves, nothing can hold them back, nothing can silence them. No army on earth can withstand its advance, no scientific breakthrough can quell or quiet their sound. A roaring and stormy ocean is a frequent reminder of man’s frailty and helplessness in the face of such raw power.

“More than the sounds of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty.” As strong and powerful as the ocean waves may be, the Lord on high is infinitely more powerful. His voice is louder, His strength is stronger, His hand is firmer. While no force on Earth can quiet the waves, a simple word from the Lord they cannot resist. The Lord reigns, His will and His command is firmly established.

O Lord I cannot stand against the waves, and the waves cannot stand against you. Thank you that you are for me and not against me. Because you are for me I can stand in hope because you control the wind and waves that crash against my life. I have no strength against them, but my God is master and commander of the whole earth. My hope and my peace are in you and in you alone.

Praise you Lord, you are strong and you are God. In Jesus name, Amen.