Day 29 “Wheelbarrow Faith”

Devotional:

Charles Blondin was a French tightrope walker from the 1800’s. One time while touring the United States he took a tight rope over 1,000 feet across the Niagara Falls. He walked across it to the roar of the crowd. And then he walked across it blindfolded. And then he walked across it on stilts. And then he walked halfway across, stopped and made himself an omelette and ate it, and then walked the rest of the way.

Charles then took a wheelbarrow filled with coal and went back and forth as the crowd went crazy with delight. And then he turned to the crowd and asked, "Who here thinks that I could put them in this wheelbarrow and cart them across the Niagara Falls?” Thousands of hands went up. And then he asked, "Who would be willing to come into the wheelbarrow and prove it?” And every hand went down.

You know, it's one thing to say that you believe; it's quite another thing to prove it with your life. Faith is believing that the Great Blondin can take the wheelbarrow across the Niagara Falls. Trust is getting into the wheelbarrow and letting him do it with you! Faith and trust. Faith and trust are similar but there is a difference. You see, faith is a confidence, trust is a commitment. Faith is a noun, trust is a verb. Faith believes, but trust does. Ultimately, trust is putting your faith into action.

In today’s passages, Jesus put His disciples to the test. The "feeding of the 5000" is the only miracle told in all four Gospels. It says that He picked Philip to test. Warren Wiersbe said, "A faith that can't be tested is a faith that can't be trusted.” These tests have the potential to stretch our faith & deepen our trust in God.

I think there's 2 reasons Jesus picked Philip to test. One's a practical reason. He was from the region. Second, based on other Gospel accounts, Philip tended to be a "bean counter.” The issue was that he would calculate without Christ. Unfortunately, that's what he did in this particular event. Andrew was also tested. At least he did something by bringing the boy to Jesus. But he, too, struggled with faith, saying, “but what are they for so many?” (John 6:9).

And then there was the boy. He gave all that he had, and in his childlike faith believed Jesus could do a miracle with it. When it comes to trusting Jesus, we see three types of trust from these individuals. From Philip we see a lack of trust. From Andrew we see a wavering trust. And from the boy we see complete trust. In the Gospels, Jesus says we are to have the faith of a child. We are not to have a lacking or wavering trust. We are to have a childlike faith that believes Jesus can do anything!

What do you need to trust God with today? It can be scary getting into a wheelbarrow and letting Jesus lead you into unknown places. But He knows what He’s doing. He’s better than the Great Blondin. He’s the Great Savior! What an adventure it is to jump into the wheelbarrow with Jesus!

Prayer:

If you have a wheelbarrow, go out and pray next to it. If you’re feeling adventurous, go ahead and get in it. Take time praying for the things you need to trust in Jesus for.