NOTE: I will have limited access to internet for the next two weeks. Be assured, however, that even if I don’t post here I am keeping up the 49 Week Bible Challenge. I encourage you to join me in this discipline. I am using the YouVersion 49 Week Bible Challenge for these devotions. Today’s readings are Mark 6:24-56 and Esther 7-10.
Mark 6:30-44
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
Forgive us Lord, for Shallow Thankfulness, is a hymn with deep expressions of confession (“forgive us”) and exhortation (“teach us”). We enjoyed a time of great celebration last Saturday, with feasting of many kinds. It was a time for true and deep thankfulness to God – not only for the gifts, but to the giver – God himself.
Jesus’ act of feeding the 5000 is an example of a feast unlike any other worldly feasts we might experience. It’s certainly different from the feast at which Herod would foolishly put himself in a position to have to behead John the Baptist. It is dramatically different from the feast at which Haman experienced a turn of fate that no one would ever wish to encounter.
It was also different from most feasts we would consider as such. Fish and bread! That’s it?!? Can’t you do better than that? The only thing similar to most feasts these days is that there were leftovers!
We are a sated lot. We Too often and too easily complain when the steak isn’t cooked to our liking, our coffee is not piping hot, or the dessert doesn’t meet our expectations. But rather than needing a different entree, we need a new “wanter” – that part of us that sets expectations and presumes to wish for things our eyes find appealing but our character cannot handle.
Jesus fed the 5000 and they were amazed and no doubt thankful. Perhaps we need to sing the hymn – or at least pray it today:
Words By William Watkins Reid Sr.
Forgive us, Lord, for shallow thankfulness,
For dull content with warmth and sheltered care,
For songs of praise for food and harvest press,
While of Your richer gifts we’re unaware:
Teach us to thank You, Lord, for love and grace,
For life and vision, for a purpose clear,
For Christ your Son, and for each human face
That shows Your message ever new and near.
Forgive us, Lord, for selfish thanks and praise,
For words that speak at variance with deeds;
Forgive our thanks for waling pleasant ways
Unmindful of a broken brother’s needs:
Teach us, O Lord, true thankfulness divine,
That gives as Christ gave, never counting cost,
That knows no barrier of “yours” and “mine,”
Assured that only what’s withheld is lost.
Forgive us, Lord, for feast that knows not fast,
For joy in things that meanwhile starve the soul,
For walls and wars that hide Your mercies vast
And blur our vision of the Kingdom goal:
Open our eyes to see Your love’s intent,
To know with minds and hearts its depth and height;
May thankfulness be days in service spend,
Reflection of Christ’s life and love and light.
Words © 1965, Ren. 1993 The Hymn Society (admin. Hope Publishing Company)
David Bahn - Reflections 
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