Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 13, 2023
Read Matthew 14:15-21
15 That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples. Then the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers. 21 About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten.
Good Morning, The joy of the Lord is my strength.
God blesses us every moment, every day. Many of these blessings go unnoticed by us. Think about all those times when something or someone just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Was it a coincidence? I see these remarkable happenings as God working in my life.
If we were going to account for all of our blessings, we would need to create a new numbering system because we would run out of numbers before we ran out of blessings. The greatest part of God’s blessings is that every time we share our blessings with others, our blessings grow.
Yesterday we read the parable, The Woman at the Well. She was trying to envision physical water when Jesus told her of the living water. Despite her confusion, she opened herself to learning more and accepting the Word. I appreciate a good visual representation when I’m trying to understand things. Imagine a cup from which you drink that never empties. No matter how many times you return to take a sip, the cup remains full. God’s blessings to us are like this never-ending cup.
Think about the five loaves of bread and two fishes. The disciples passed the food to the thousands who had gathered. Each removed food from the baskets, but the baskets remained not just full but overflowing. God provides all that we need and invites us to return for nourishment as often as we need it. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.
God invites us to return to the well so that we might receive his blessings. Each time we share our gifts with those in need, we receive more blessings. All we have comes from God, and we are called to share everything with which we are blessed.
Knowing God, Thank You for being with us. You bless us with your grace, love, and mercy. Lead us to share likewise with all we meet. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: When I think I have given enough, I still can give more.
God’s grace is sufficient! Pastor Liz
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