My Window

Matthew 14 -. The Savior learns that His cousin, and dear friend, John the Baptist died. In this chapter, Matthew shows us Christ’s humanity alongside His divine nature. As much as Christ probably wants to go be alone with His Heavenly Father, He chooses to serve. He heals, teaches, and feeds (5,000 men not including women and children to be exact). Verse 14 says “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.” From His choices here we learn just how worthy Christ is of His role. His perfect love led to blessings amidst sorrow. So many people were taught just how important faith is by his example. With Christ, the work goes on. 

He did not let his trial stop him from doing the work of his father.

Simultaneously, this miracle teaches us that Heavenly Father requires effort, not perfection. The people did not come with enough food for everyone to eat, but they came with faith, and a heart ready to learn. One of my professors at Southern Virginia University taught me the principle of  “Give me your best and I’ll do the rest.” Heavenly Father took what they could give, and made up the difference. He and Christ will meet us where we are at, and not only that but more. What was left over from feeding the crowd was more than they started with. He will give us help to do things that we don’t think we can, but we can with Him. 

We cannot compare the Savior’s faith to ours because Christ was perfect and that is something we will never quite reach on Earth, but we sure can try and his love is a beautiful reminder to focus on the light even when things are really hard. 

The last thing I would like to note from this part of the chapter is that once the bread was blessed and broken, he gave it to his disciples to disperse. The Savior trusts us to do his work. He wants us to share the things we know to be true. He makes it very clear that all are invited and he needs our help to spread the word. Of course, it’s easier said than done and something I haven’t quite mastered, but I am learning how to share my testimony more often in ways that are genuine and natural. Never count someone out just because you don’t think they’ll listen or you don’t think they’ll want it. The Lord knows what people need better than we ever can, and he knows we can love them as he does enough to give it to them.