Picture great crowds, coming to be taught…
Picture the sick, whom others had brought.
Picture them healed through miracles wrought
By Jesus, God’s Son, Whom so many had sought.

Picture a day where the sun was getting low.
“Hear” the disciples saying they just didn’t know…
How the people would eat—and should be told to go;
But picture five loaves of bread and two fish that would grow.

“Listen” to Jesus say, “Bring them here to me…”
Picture the loaves and fish multiplied by His decree,
With five thousand (plus) being fed, at a cost that was free,
And twelve baskets left over before the disciples put out to sea.

Picture Jesus sending the multitudes away,
Going up to the mountain by Himself to pray–-
Then joining the disciples, through water and spray,
On the fourth watch of the night, just before day.

Picture Peter bravely wanting to join the Lord,
Picture him boldly stepping overboard;
Then see his faith waver as sea and wind roared–
Picture him sinking but, by Christ, being restored.

Picture your own life and remember these things;
Remember that “greatness” to small things Christ brings.
Look to the Lord for your faith to take wings,
As you walk on life’s waters with the King of Kings.

P. A. Oltrogge

Reference: Matthew 14:14-31 (He fed five thousand men, besides women and children)

(In Matthew 15, Jesus again feeds many–four thousand men, plus women and children, from seven loaves of bread and a few fish, with seven baskets left over…)

Then, in Matthew 16:5-12, Jesus speaks to His disciples, warning them against the leaven, or yeast, of the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees….

“Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.’

“And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘It is because we have taken no bread.’

“But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, ‘O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

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The disciples had the miracle-working Son of God to believe, as we do today! Picture Him always at work in your life…

…photo/Porch of the Lord