People Of Little Faith

I posted this to one of other blog spots and felt I needed to re-post it here to help me remember and also to share with others.

"8 - Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 - Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10- Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 - How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 - Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.''
-- Matthew 16:8-12 (KJV)

Jesus knew that the followers were talking about this. So
Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking about not having
bread? Your faith is small. You still don't understand?
Remember the five loaves of bread that fed the 5,000 people?
And remember that you filled many baskets {with bread after
the people finished eating}? And remember the seven loaves of
bread that fed the 4,000 people? Remember that you filled
many baskets {with bread after the people finished eating}?
So I was not talking to you about bread. Why don't you
understand that? I am telling you to be careful and guard
against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." Then
the followers understood what Jesus meant. Jesus was not
telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread. Jesus
was telling them to guard against the teaching of the
Pharisees and the Sadducees.

KEY THOUGHT:
_____________

Jesus did get frustrated with his disciples; he just didn't give up on
them! That means that he was involved with them and helped them grow.
Indeed, he reached back into their experience and helped them
understand their blindness and lack of faith more clearly while driving
home his point of concern: be warned about the Pharisees and Sadducees;
their teaching is dangerous! In addition, they should have clearly
learned by now that they could depend upon him for food.
In dealing with people who don't understand, I find we fail because we
don't have the relationship with them to know them and their history
enough to help change them -- we tend to lose patience when people
don't get it the first or second time -- we get caught up in the
argument and the frustration and we forget the main point in the first
place.


TODAY'S PRAYER:
_______________

Holy God, help me be more patient with others who are confused, who do
dumb things spiritually, and who ask the same questions again and
again. Please help me deal with others in the way you have dealt with
me when I've been slow to understand and foolish in my choice of
behaviors. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.