Today’s reading is Matthew 15:1-16:28.

Today, when the disciples were rebuked by Jesus for not understanding His statement about the leaven of the Pharisees, I was struck by something. Jesus said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how may baskets you gathered? Or the seen loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:8-11).

I sometimes read this story thinking, “Had I been there, I would have gotten it. I mean, come on guys, He had just fed the four thousand in the last chapter. How on earth could they miss this?” However, how many times in my own life do I do the exact same thing? I get worried and stressed about how we’re going to make it through the month. I get worried and stressed about how we’re going to live through retirement. I get worried about how things are going to work out over some problem in the congregation. I get worried and stressed about some relationship.

What do I do in those moments? Do I say, “God is in control”? Do I say, “I just need to submit to God, He can work everything out if I’ll just do what He says”? No. I usually begin to try to manipulate and control things so they will work out the way I want. Do you know what happens then? I usually just get more stressed because I can’t control everything.

While the point in my life is a bit different than the one Jesus was making to the apostles, I think there is a point to be made here. Jesus was able to feed five thousand with five loaves. Jesus was able to feed four thousand with seven loaves. If Jesus was able to do that, I can trust Him to take care of and provide for me. I don’t need to be in control. I need to simply spend more time in God’s word being reminded of what God has done and what God is doing. I don’t have to get stressed out about what I’m going to do. I simply need to relax, trust God, and do what He says. He’ll take care of me. That is how powerful He is.

***Question: How do you increase your trust in God?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC