John 6:30-33
They replied, "What miracle will you work, so that we can have faith in you? What will you do? For example, when our ancestors were in the desert, they were given manna to eat. It happened just as the Scriptures say, `God gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "Jesus then told them, "I tell you for certain that Moses wasn't the one who gave you bread from heaven. My Father is the one who gives you the true bread from heaven. And the bread that God gives is the one who came down from heaven to give life to the world."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Most of us are probably familiar with the scene in the movie “Jerry Maguire” where Cuba Gooding, Jr. screams, “Show me the money!” Gooding portrays a pro football player who is disgruntled with his contract. As his agent (played by Tom Cruise) tries to appease him, Gooding’s character is totally dissatisfied with the explanation. He wants proof of what Cruise’s character is promising… he wants more… he wants Cruise to “show me the money!”
Isn’t this how we operate with God many times? If we are really honest, don’t we want God to “show me the money!”? Oh, I don’t mean we literally want money… though some do! We are not satisfied with the things God does for us every minute of the day… the subtle mercies He offers us… the way He loves us when we don’t deserve it… the grace He extends as we muddle through our lives. We want Him to bring lightning bolts and thunder and pull out the BIG guns and really do miraculous things that are clearly visible. Maybe then we will really recognize Him and give Him due credit!
Does this sound familiar? How many times have you said, “LORD, I need a miracle!”? We fail to recognize that the fact that God loves us in the first place is probably one of the biggest miracles ever! Beyond this, we don’t stop to acknowledge all of the countless ways He is present in our lives on a daily basis. In essence, we don’t really recognize GOD! Unless He “shows us the money” in a grand way that makes a spectacular production for the world to see, we aren’t interested.
Look around. Take a good, hard look at your life in the light of what God has done – and continues to do – for you every day. See His hand in the smallest of events, as well as those larger ones. Get a grip on how much God loves us, and understand that He really does “show you the money” every minute of the day. Now humble yourself and thank Him… really thank Him for His tender love, grace and mercy… and start to operate in a spirit of full awareness of His presence – and gratitude for His blessings.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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