Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Ash Wednesday
Matthew 14:19-20 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
LOOK AT YOUR SAVIOR'S HANDS -- HANDS THAT PROVIDE!
Sigh ... "It's Ash Wednesday again. What do I have to give up?" Each year you always hear someone or some church talk about what they're giving up for Lent. There's nothing wrong with giving up something for Lent, just like the multitudes following Jesus gave up eating in order to hear His Word. But if you or I were to sacrifice something for our Lord this Lent or anytime, let it be for that kind of reason--in order to follow and hear Jesus.
Just notice the hands of Him those multitudes followed! Jesus provided for them, and in abundance! Matthew says "they ALL ate and were FILLED." Even the Lord's servants, the 12 apostles, picked up 12 baskets full after everyone else had eaten. How can we not see that our Savior's hands, still today, are hands that provide?
As we begin this season of Lent today on Ash Wednesday, recognize that you too are starving. Praise the Lord that your stomach is probably not what is starving, but your soul. You and I can act much like that crowd did after being fed by Jesus, and begin to only care about how He satisfies our stomach's desires. Forgive me Lord!
So rather this Lent let's pray the Spirit would open our starving ears and hearts to hear Jesus' command to "sit down on the grass" of His pastures and be fed with His Word of life, forgiveness, and salvation. Look at your Savior's hands and see His glorious and yet gruesome hands, bleeding, outstretched on the cross to provide you with the greatest sacrifice of all for your eternal life! Think of what Jesus was willing to give up this Lent, so that you and I could be FILLED with His grace, mercy, and love forever now and into eternity!
