‘Sarge, Will You Tell Us About God?’ – The Story of God’s Miraculous Protection of an Entire U. S. Marine Unit

In celebration of Memorial Day, I am re-posting this story. I have several new readers and followers who were not with me when I originally posted “Sarge, Will You Tell Us About God,” and a number of Marine veterans have now discovered that the book is available. So I’d like to share the story again in the hope that many more people may be blessed by what the Lord did for an entire Marine unit during World War II.

The story itself makes up a small book, published by St. Ellen Press and is available on their website as well. Although it’s my story, and that of the other 321 men in my squadron, it is primarily HIS story.

In the past few years I have shared free copies of the book with hundreds of soldiers who were in the midst of horrible combat overseas. In response, I have received numerous testimonies of how the book strengthened their own faith and helped them experience miracles of protection and deliverance as well.  I am grateful to be able to share it here. If you are reading this post and are a member of the armed forces — or you have a loved one who is — you may feel free to copy and print this story so that you can read it whenever you like and share it with others.

I have dedicated the book “Sarge, Will You Tell Us About God?” to my Marine buddy Dominic Cersosimo, better known as “Blackie.” We served together throughout the entire Pacific Campaign, and Blackie was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries resulting from a Kamikaze attack on LST 599 (pictured below the story).

Just this past month, there has been a new development in mine and Blackie’s relationship, and I will tell you about that in the following prologue to the book:

The Visit of a Lifetime

During W W II: I am far left; Blackie is second from right

It was 67 years ago that my World War II buddy, Dominic Cersosimo, and I bade each other farewell and headed home at the end of the War. It was several years later when we finally located each other and communicated by mail and telephone. But it was not until May of this year that we finally came together again – as my wife and I drove to his home in Pennsylvania.

I didn’t know what to expect as we went up to his front door and rang the doorbell. The door slowly opened, and for the first time in 67 years, we looked each other in the eye – and guess what – tears began to flow on both sides.

May, 2013: Blackie is on left: I am on right

The Cersosimo’s had spare bedrooms, and we moved in for nearly four days of joy, tears, and excitement. We virtually fought again the Pacific campaign against the Japanese, especially the Okinawa landing and capture.

It is amazing how true friendship, especially in war, never ends. Psalm 91 was our trust and support during those horrific times, and in spite of all we experienced and overcame, by God’s grace, not a single man in our unit was lost to enemy action. And I like to think that Marine Fighting Squadron 322 was reborn a week ago at McKee’s Rocks, Pennsylvania.

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Now for the story: SARGE, WILL YOU TELL US ABOUT GOD?

IT’S A REAL WAR

It was late fall of 1943. We were in Marine Fighting Squadron 322, training at “war games,” on Parris Island, South Carolina. We were being honed daily. At exactly 11:00 P.M. we were rudely awakened and rousted out of our bunks with the terse command, “Begin packing!”

Marine Fighting Squadron 322 had received sealed orders from the upper echelon command. We were to board a hastily assembled troop train early the next morning.

“Surely one more night wouldn’t make that much difference,” we all mumbled, but in the Marines, orders are orders! The only information we were given was that orders were to move without delay to the West Coast, where we were to disembark for the Pacific Theater of Operations. So that was it! “War games” were now at an end. Our months and months and months of training were now to be put to the real test: honest-to-goodness war!

THE CALL

Ever since my sophomore year in high school, I had wanted to be a Marine. After December 7, 1941, as a senior in high school, I purposefully aimed for that goal. After graduation it took some doing, but I finally convinced my parents to sign the authorization papers permitting me to volunteer for service in the U. S. Marines. I was only seventeen at the time.

On July 3, 1942, in the Federal Building in Chicago, I raised my right hand and was sworn into active duty. My whole world was about to undergo a dramatic change.

The stories of the rigors and brutal lifestyle of Marine Corps Boot Camp are numerous and legend, and probably all true. But the tough, disciplined lifestyle was not my principle problem. Long before I entered the Corps – at the age of 12 – I had given my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and was born again. At 16, I felt a genuine call to serve Him in ministry and actually preached a couple or three times. I carried that commitment with me into the Marine Corps, and I was soon to learn what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”

It was something like walking into a buzz saw. Here was a kid who read his Bible, never spoke a single filthy or curse word, never drank or partied with women while out on liberty. It is a gross understatement to say that I stood out. And since I was in a group of guys who did do all of those things, plus a few more, I became the subject of a lot of teasing. Nobody ever ridiculed my faith, per se, but I was quickly tabbed with the name “preacher.”

I determined that if I were to live through this unwelcome spotlight as a “born-again” Christian, I would have to demonstrate the best qualities of a Marine. So I made sure every task was done to the best of my ability – sometimes overdone – but never shirked. As far as I am concerned, it was done as well as the best and better than most.

ON THE WAY TO DESTINY

Back to the fall of 1943. By 9:00 the morning after we received the new orders, we were all on board the train, and within minutes, we headed west. This Saturday the mood among all the Marines in the unit was a mixed bag. There was excitement, yet a degree of somberness. We couldn’t help but think of what may lie ahead. We traveled under tight security – no one leaving the train under any circumstances. A dining car was attached so we could take our meals on the move.

Sunday morning found us racing through the state of Arkansas. After finishing breakfast, I returned from the dining car and sat passively next to the window, watching the countryside go by. As I looked up to the head of the car, in walked our personnel officer. He stood there looking over the passengers as if he were looking for someone in particular.

His eyes finally settled on me, and he walked over. “Sarge,” he began, “the guys wanted me to ask if you would conduct a church service. It’s Sunday you know.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and without thinking I blurted out, “You’ve got to be kidding!”

“No, I’m not kidding,” he answered, “and if you will, I would consider it a personal favor.”

Instantly I agreed to do it and began praying, seeking God for the right message and scriptures. Almost immediately, Psalm 91 rose up in my spirit: the perfect word from the Lord for the moment. Later, all of us gathered into one car, and I began to share those comforting words and marvelous promises from the ninety-first Psalm. Other than my voice, the only discernible sound throughout that car was the clicking of the train wheels. I had the complete attention of every man in the unit.

The Lord was directing me as I had asked. Now I don’t recall everything I said, but I do recall assuring my buddies that God meant what He said in that Psalm. I assured them that God truly loved them and that He would be with them in every circumstance – if they would trust Him.

Then I led them in a closing prayer. I remember that we prayed, “Lord, wherever we find ourselves in the weeks and months ahead, may we bring honor to You, to our families, to the Marine Corps, and to our nation. In Your mercy, we ask for Your protection in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

That Sunday morning was to be a turning point in my Marine Corps experience. From that day forward, never again was I teasingly called “preacher,” or taunted for being “religious.” Trust and respect became the hallmark of my treatment by the other men. I have often thought about how different things might have been if, from the beginning, I had tried to just be “one of the guys.” To whom would they have turned on that fateful Sunday morning?

FAITH UNDER FIRE

Our squadron was in the Pacific Theater for a year and a half. We traveled all the way from the South Pacific to the final Pacific campaign – landing on Okinawa. We experienced our most difficult campaign at Okinawa. We read Psalm 91 almost every day, while enduring just about everything that made up the meaning of war: sleepless nights under heavy bombardment, air raids, shelling, snipers, Japanese suicide squads, and a direct Kamikaze hit on our LST as we headed for the beach.

Our Marine unit was on board the Navy landing ship LST 599 on that fateful day, as we headed for that Okinawan beach. Most of our equipment was on the tank deck of that landing vessel, and all of our personnel were equipped with personal gear, ready to land.

We were approximately one mile off-shore when a buddy and I went onto the top deck to survey the situation. As I glanced to the port side, I noticed a four-plane formation flying parallel to the beach. As the planes got closer, I nudged my buddy and said, “Those are not our planes; they are Japs!”

None of the ships in the landing party opened fire, because the general rule prohibited firing on any planes during a beach landing, due to the fact that ordinarily they would be our own planes supporting our landing troops. But, for some reason, the turret gunner on our LST opened fire. After the planes had traveled about ½ mile down the beach, one of them peeled off from the formation and headed directly for our ship. He was a Kamikaze suicide pilot intent on destroying our ship and everybody on board.

At that point, everybody opened fire on him but failed to knock him down. He crashed through the top deck of our LST, through 100 drums of high octane gasoline. The explosion and fire that resulted were almost unbelievable. The main objective at that point, of course, was to fight the fire, and we Marines joined in with the small Navy crew to get it under control.

In a situation like that, protocol dictated that the Navy captain of the LST was to get all the Marines off to safety if at all possible, because technically, we were considered passengers. But our commanding officer refused to leave the Navy crew helpless. So all of our unit stayed on board and fought valiantly.

We lost virtually all of our equipment and weapons, and our landing was delayed about 5 hours. But in spite of the deadly attack, not a single life was lost, and only a few non-life-threatening injuries resulted. After the fire was under control, we boarded another ship and completed our landing. Another Marine unit that had already landed heard of our loss of equipment and weapons and directed a supply of weapons back to us, so the campaign continued.

LST 599 was later beached on an adjoining island to be cleaned out, and during that process, it was discovered that the Japanese plane had also carried a bomb. It was by the grace of God alone that the bomb had not exploded on impact.

After this event, the Navy declared that if it had not been for the Marine unit that stayed aboard to help fight the fire, the LST would have been lost. As a result, our Marine unit was awarded the Navy Unit Citation for endangering our lives and staying aboard to save the ship.

GOD’S WORD WORKS!

Months later, after the island was secured, our replacements arrived, and we boarded a ship to return home on August 6, 1945 – the day the atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima. It was not until months later, at the time I received my honorable discharge, November 5, 1945, that it dawned on me just how powerfully the Word of God had worked for all of us: Of all the Marines in our unit, not one single man was lost to enemy action.

Praise God! His Word Works!

LST 599, immediately after the direct Kamikaze hit. Shows Marine Corps Unit 322 fighting, along with the Navy crew, to save the LST and all the men on board.

PSALM 91

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I confidently trust!

For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His trust and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be as you witness the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, there shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge over you, to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways. They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.

Because He has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. (The Amplified Bible).

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‘Hopeless’ is Not a God Word

Looking upon them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, … for with God all things are possible.”        — Mark 10:27

How often have you heard someone, in a state of total exasperation, blurt out, “It’s hopeless!” Closer to home, how often have you declared, “It’s hopeless!” when some minor or major circumstance loomed before you? Since we can all plead guilty, more or less, the question arises: is this a valid reaction from a Bible-believing Christian?

It is a revelation to note that in the common Hebrew, there is no word that can be translated “hopeless.” That may seem unusual or even weird until you take the time to seriously study the ancient and current history of the Hebrew people.

From its infancy the nation of Israel could look in any direction and see an enemy. Each of those enemies shared a common goal: eliminate the Jew. Israel was always outnumbered and out-gunned – and in the natural, it seemed they would never make it – but they did.

During their time of living in Egypt, after many years of prosperity and peace under Joseph, they suddenly found themselves enslaved under the boot of the most powerful monarch in the world at the time. It seemed hopeless: over 400 years in slavery, and in the natural there was no way they could ever see freedom again; but they did.

On the banks of the Red Sea, loaded down with Egyptian wealth, the Israelites were trapped (hopeless) before Pharaoh’s army bearing down with only one goal in mind — annihilation. In the natural they could never escape; but they did.

Down through the centuries, despot after despot — all of the “ites” of the Old Testament, through the “Hitler-ites” of the twentieth century, and beyond — all rose up with their identical solution to the world’s woes: Eliminate the Jew. How could Israel survive this relentless onslaught, this “hopelessness”? In the natural they could never endure it all; but they did.

Would you like to see living, breathing proof that God exists? Find a modern day Jew, and take a good look! No other people, nation, or ethnic group can even approach the perseverance and longevity of the Jew. You see, Jehovah God doesn’t have “hopeless” in His vocabulary either, and He covenanted that Israel would always be His Chosen People, and that the sun and moon would fail before the “Chosen” disappeared. So is it any wonder their beloved language does not recognize “hopeless”?

This narrative was inspired by a brief but moving address by an elderly Jewish Rabbi. He had just followed to the podium a speaker who had lamented the state of “hopelessness” that pervades our society. As he stood before his audience, he rolled up his right sleeve and displayed a number tattooed on his forearm.

“This,” he spoke very gently, “was put there by the Nazis when, as a little boy, I was thrown into a concentration camp. Many of us were there, and most did not survive. But instead of thinking that I would die tomorrow, I remembered the teaching of my forefathers that still lingers within me and my people today. It is a centuries-old axiom that, translated into English says, ‘Where there is breath, there is hope!’”

Throughout all history, in the natural, the Jews had little reason to hope; but they did.

So, what about the born-again believer? The Scriptures tell us that Jehovah God – the God of Israel – sent His Son Jesus Christ to seal a better covenant. When we become a party to that covenant by repenting and receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are grafted in and become the sons and daughters of Abraham and heirs to the promises — all of them! Hallelujah!

Let us join our Jewish brethren in eliminating from our vocabulary the faith-killing word “hopeless.” Let us join in declaring, “Where there is breath, there is hope.” And in total trust let us shout from the housetops the truth of our text, “…with God nothing is impossible!”

Then the world will look at us, puzzled, and mutter to one another, “Man, I didn’t think they would ever get out of that, but you know what? They did!

 

Living in the Miraculous

“And at the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number; to such an extent that they even carried the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. And also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits; and they were all being healed. ”Acts 5:12, 14-16 (NAS).

It should be impossible to read the Book of Acts without being in a state of awe and wonder. From the Day of Pentecost, when they were baptized and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the apostles lived and ministered in the reality of the miraculous every day. And all of that blessing and power and gifting was not reserved just for them, but even laymen like Philip and Stephen moved powerfully in the Holy Spirit, shaking entire cities.

Angels appeared to those who obeyed the directions of the Holy Spirit and unlocked their chains. The world even experienced the first automatic door as Peter walked out of prison, following the instructions of an angel. In our text, Peter was so anointed that even people touched by his passing shadow were instantly healed. Healed cripples were leaping and dancing through the Temple concourse. All the power that was vested in Jesus when He walked the earth was now poured out upon the believers, and as Jesus predicted, they now embarked on the road of doing even greater things than He did. The result — through the power of the Holy Spirit, wimps were turned into warriors; the sick, blind, and crippled were healed; restoration and deliverance were the order of the day wherever the believing apostles and lay believers went.

Well, what about today? The truth is, we need more of Jesus, more of His saving, healing, and miraculous power, more of the presence of the Holy Spirit than in any previous generation. But can we have it? The answer is a big Yes! But take a look at the early church. The believers of the Book of Acts knew the cost of miraculous living, and they joyfully paid the price. In the midst of their new-found infilling of power, they constantly sought the face of the Lord — that is, they were a praying people. From chapter 1 verse 1, to chapter 28 verse 31, it tells how prayer moved God; regardless of their circumstances.

Some people today get wonderfully saved, even baptized in the Holy Spirit, but somehow soon find themselves in a state of confusion. Notice the case of Paul: struck down on the Damascus Road, he was out of commission; in fact blinded and totally helpless. Nothing happened until he prayed. He prayed for three days, and during that time he got to know Jesus in a true, intimate way. Even though he was a new convert, he needed no counselor, no prophet, no word of knowledge; he never felt the need to run all over the Middle East looking for someone to give him a “word.” Why? Because he prayed, and prayed, and prayed. As a result, he heard the Lord say, “I will show you. Go; just keep in touch.”

God moved powerfully with Paul, Peter, and all of the believers in that day, to bring the message of salvation and Holy Spirit baptism to the Gentiles. All through the Book of Acts we see phrases like “God said to them.” “The Lord said,” “The Holy Ghost said.” “The angel of the Lord said.” Those praying saints got the clear and unmistakable Word of God with amazing clarity.

There is a teaching in the land today that says you pray only once, or even not at all — just believe. And if you pray more than once over the same issue, you are demonstrating unbelief. This is contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the Scriptures. Prayer is God’s idea; He invented it and expects — and in facts pleads for us to use it. When you pray, and bring alongside believing faith, obedience, studying and meditating on the Word, then you have the greatest power in the universe working for you. Under this kind of covering, prayer will be the switch that closes the circuit and allows the surge of power to perform the miraculous.

This truth is all through the Bible. Abraham’s faith was so strong it was counted to him as righteous. Yet he ran to the altar of God over and over again to pray. Moses had a one-on-one relationship with his Jehovah, yet he was a persistent pray-er. And Elijah: when he prayed for rain, he sent his servant seven times to look for a cloud. And they kept at it all the way to victory. You don’t give up. Then how about Daniel? It took 21 days of praying, along with some fasting and weeping, but did he ever get an answer!

God wants to talk to us, and He wants us to talk to Him. The promises in His Word are numerous and every one answered “yes and amen in Christ Jesus.”(2 Cor. 1:20). Beloved, He is calling to His Holy Remnant (that’s us) to be found faithful in prayer. And like He did the saints of old, He will lift us to that miraculous realm wherein we walk as prayer warriors. If we take the time to be closed in with Him, we will walk in that realm.

God’s will is His Word, and His Word is His will. The Scriptures say that faith comes by His Word. Then we activate that faith by our prayers — the pathway to having our needs met and living in the miraculous. Glory!

He’s Still the Healing Jesus!

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38 (NAS).

If you have ever heard or been told that Jesus Christ no longer heals today, you were told something that God gave no man, no church, no ecclesiastical body the authority to speak.  Likewise, if you have been taught that the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer in operation and that all of those manifestations came to an end with the closing of the apostolic age, then you were taught something that is not found anywhere in God’s Word. Nor does it hold up to recorded church history.  What the Bible does clearly teach is that God sent His Son Jesus into the world to make complete provision for man’s redemption so that man through Him can have abundant life — in body, mind and spirit.

The scriptural evidence for this truth is overwhelming, and it cries out for God’s people to grasp it.  However, to a considerable degree we have disregarded and ignored it for a tragically long time. If we believe the records of the Gospel writers, all of them — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — then we cannot deny the evident truth that Jesus considered physical healing an integral part of His mission on earth.  With the exception of time devoted to Holy Week, the first three Gospels devote at least one-half of their content to Jesus’ ministry of healing.  One Biblical scholar estimates that not less than 75% of the Gospels deals with Jesus providing for the immediate needs of the people He encountered — physical healing being the most prevalent.

And nowhere in Scripture do we find Jesus failing or refusing to heal anyone who came to Him for that purpose.  The Scripture states repeatedly, “He healed them all!” There is not a single shred of evidence in God’s Word that Jesus ever sent anyone away sick because “it was not God’s will” for them to be healed; or that it was “God’s will” that they remain sick.

It is interesting to note that every time Jesus spoke of the source of sickness, He mentioned Satan, because it is Satan who does the oppressing.  Our text Scripture states without reservation that “Jesus of Nazareth went about healing all who were oppressed of the devil.”  John tells us in his first Epistle, chapter 3 verse 8, “…The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (NAS).  Sin and sickness are both part of the kingdom of the devil that Jesus came into this world to destroy.  Who would deny today that Jesus still destroys sin?  Who would qualify the scriptural fact that Jesus today removes sin by His shed Blood? Nobody! And neither can anybody accurately deny that He still removes sickness by the same power.

No beloved, none of the evil perpetrated by the devil is out of the range of the cleansing power of Jesus Christ and His shed Blood.  “Jesus the same yesterday, today and yes, forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NAS). Just as He healed all who came to Him while He was on earth, He will, through the same believing faith, give His healing touch to you who need it today.  Do not let man rob you of this blessing. If you must choose to believe God’s Word or man’s traditions, choose God’s Word and BE HEALED!

 

(Artwork: © Brett Snyder, christprints.com)

NO EXCUSES — JUST FAITH

***   We quote Scriptures and testify to our confidence and trust in the Word almost with abandon. Then comes that moment when we are called upon not only to “talk the talk,” but to “walk the talk.”   ***

                                                                                                                           

“And when it was evening the disciples came to Him saying, ‘The place is desolate and the time is already past … we have here only five loaves and two fish.’”       Matthew 14:15a, 17b

To the student and lover of the Word of God, it is amazing how often seemingly hidden messages leap off the page from some of the most familiar and quoted Scriptures in the Bible. This is not a reference to new doctrine though, but to refreshing revelations that embellish the beauty and meaning of Bible verses we have read and loved for years. This experience is in fact, a pouring out of revelation knowledge by almighty God to those whose hearts and spiritual ears are open to hear and absorb a blessing He is sending out with increased frequency in these last days.

An example of this kind of revelation came forth recently that excites the imagination and further solidifies our trust in His Word. The Scriptural incident is reported in Mathew 14, and is routinely referred to as “the story of the loaves and fishes” or “the feeding of the five thousand.” But what really happened, and the faith- building lesson that comes forth out of the dialogue that takes place, is far from routine.

Matthew 14:14-16: “And when He (Jesus) went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and felt compassion for them, and He healed all of the sick. When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This is a remote and barren place, and the day is now over. Send the throngs away to the villages to buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ They said to Him, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’”

It is important that we get a clear-eyed perception of the circumstances surrounding this incident in the ministry of Jesus; particularly regarding the word multitude. Verse 21 sets the stage clearly: “And those who ate were about five thousand men, not including women and children.” So, the five thousand men apparently had their wives and children alongside during this three-day journey of following the miracle working Jesus. Accordingly most biblical historians estimate this multitude to have totaled at least 12,000, possible more.

Another observation here is that the disciples prior to this event had walked with Jesus long enough to have witnessed some awesome fruits of the Master’s ministry. They had seen Him heal lepers, open blind eyes, cast out demons, and heal masses of people, including all of the sick in the city of Capernaum. They even watched in awe as His verbal command stopped a vicious storm at sea in an instant. That is why throngs followed Him day and night. “Jehovah has sent someone to deliver us!”, they excitedly cried out. Just within the hour, the disciples watched as Jesus moved compassionately through the crowd “…And healed all that were sick.” In spite of all the extensive first person witness to the power of almighty God through Jesus, the disciples suddenly developed a faith block. All they could see at that moment was the impossibility of serving this enormous crowd.

“Master, we are out in the middle of nowhere; send them away. There is nothing we can do – we’re in the wrong place.”

“Master, the sun is almost set – it’s far too late.”

“Master, we don’t have enough food. All there is in this vast crowd is five small loaves and two fishes that the little boy over there has – we’re lacking. We can’t afford it.”

How often modern day Christians find themselves in a similar dilemma. We quote Scriptures and testify to our confidence and trust in the Word almost with abandon. Then comes that moment when we are called upon not only to “talk the talk,” but to “walk the talk.” Imagine how thrilled the heart of Jesus would have been if the disciples had responded to His order with something like, “Master, we are ready! Just tell us what to do. All we can round up is five small loaves and two fish. Doesn’t seem like much, but we know it’s more than enough for you!” Wow!

It is the same for us today. It thrills the heart of Jesus when we take Him at His Word and trust Him to make good on His promises. True, we may not have witnessed His mighty miracles first hand as the disciples did, but “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Further, the Scriptures tell us that we have an even firmer legacy. Remember “doubting” Thomas? After he had placed his hands in the nail prints and the pierced side, the Bible says, “He believed.” Now listen to how Jesus responded. “… because you have seen me, Thomas, do you now believe, trust, and have faith? Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen me, and yet have believed, and adhered to and trusted in and relied on Me!” (John 20:29 Amplified)

To those of us today who have never seen Jesus and His works in the flesh, and yet we believe and trust Him … we are blessed – we are to be envied; and heaven rejoices every time we demonstrate that trust.

Then Jesus said, “Bring the loaves and fishes to Me.” In essence, He told the disciples to brig to Him what they had – to do what they possible could in the natural. The Master was about to add the “super.” The result — supernatural! All ate until they were full, with twelve baskets-fulls left over!

Today we have the complete canon of Old and New Testament Scriptures that are replete with the promises of God. We live and walk under a better Covenant, sealed by the Blood of Him who changes not, is no respecter of persons, and Who yearns to save, heal, provide, and deliver.

Is it too late? Are we in the wrong place? Are we lacking in faith? Never! He stands ready to prove His faithfulness.