Matthew 15

“Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’” Matthew 15:32 NIV

In reading this, I thought it was interesting that we become restless, tiredsome, and even choose to leave when our church service is stretched beyond 75 minutes. But here, we read that three days had past and still the crowds hung on Christ’s words and loving acts. Now I get it, at church we are not healing the sick, causing the blind to see nor the lame to walk again, but when I read this I found myself asking the question ‘Do I take the time required in order to be properly prepared for the day ahead?’

Jesus is the same today as He was back then. He is the Way Maker; He still heals the sick and He still provides for our needs. He continues to bestow His compassion upon us today as He did for this crowd at that time. Those whom Christ feeds, He fills. And those He fills, receive an abundance of His goodness. Jesus did not want the people to go away hungry and possibly faint along their journey home, nor does He want us to collapse or grow weary in our Spiritual journey. He is our strength today when facing opposition and temptation, and our hope for tomorrow knowing that we can rely on Christ and His power to help us prevail. May the Lord increase our faith.