As a father, I try to look for ways to share life lessons with my children. These aren't formal lessons like "okay, let's all sit down now and I'll lecture you on life." Rather, it is trying to find teachable moments as we do life together. It is looking at what is happening to us and around us, and seeing what we can learn from it. The disciples certainly benefited from Christ's formal teachings, but I think they got the most out of the lessons they learned from doing life with Him. In Matthew 14 we see four such lessons. The first lesson is one of conviction--having something you believe in to the point that you are willing to die for it. That was the lesson they saw when John the Baptist was beheaded because he refused to compromise his message. Next, they saw a lesson in creativity when Jesus took the loaves and fish to feed 5,000 men plus women and children. Initially the disciples only saw the problems--the time was too late, the needs were too many and the resources too few. Jesus saw beyond the problem to find a creative solution. The third lesson was about control. With amazement they saw Jesus walk on water and control even the wind. They discovered that nothing is beyond Christ's ability and control. Finally, they got a lesson in compassion. Jesus tried to get alone time, but He was moved with compassion to meet the needs of the masses. Conviction, creativity, control and compassion--good lessons for all of us to learn as we follow Christ.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.
