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Mark 8:14-18
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod."
They discussed this with one another and said, "It is because we have no bread."
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?
FAILURE
What is failure? According to the dictionary, it is “the condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends or the nonperformance of what is requested or expected.” In other words, it’s relative. Depending on the perception of the person reviewing your performance, you may fail or succeed. So, if while you’re on earth you fail a test or you lose your job and you feel like a failure, are you a loser? Not according to the Bible.
In Mark, Jesus is distraught that his disciples, who have already seen him take just a few loaves of bread and multiply them into enough for thousands, believe it is necessary to bring a loaf of bread with them. He says to them, “Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?” Now that’s real failure.
You see, earlier he makes reference to the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. He does this because unleavened bread in the Bible was a symbol for being free from sin. To have yeast was to have sin. Jesus was saying to his followers that all they had to do was believe in him and they would see the path they were to follow. They didn’t have to worry about earthly things. There would be food, and there would be life. They would not fail.
So don’t worry if you feel down on your luck. Don’t worry if everything seems gray right. Just keep being the person you should be. Keep focused on your path and give your worries to God. Believe in him and ask that he lead you to where you should be. It works. All you have to do is believe, and you’ll leave failure far behind.
Dear Lord,
If my life isn’t going as I think it should be, help me to stay focused on what is really important. Help me to remember you are the way, the truth, and the light. Make my faith strong so I will always be a winner and leave failure in the distance.
Amen
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