Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 28, 2024
Matthew 14:13-21
13 When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14 When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. 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! Rejoice in all that God gives us!
Until all are fed, we cry out until all on earth have bread.
Like the One who loves us each and every one.
We serve until all are fed.
When we read this passage, we often focus on the miracle of feeding the five thousand. This morning, I want to focus on what happens in the first verse. Jesus has just learned of the beheading of his cousin, John the Baptist. He goes away from the crowd to pray and do some “self-care.”
When those in need came to find him, he put aside his own needs and serves their needs until all are fed. It is easy to say, “I’m tired! I’ll help them later.” This is not to say we should put aside our own needs, but are we choosing not to help because it’s inconvenient and we are using tiredness as an excuse?
We sometimes talk ourselves out of serving others because we make it more than it had to be. Do we prepare a feast when bread will do? Do we schedule a big event when a listening ear will do it? We are called to be like Jesus who loves us each and every one, so we are to serve until all are fed.
Faithful God, Thank you for creating us. We want to be served, but we can be reluctant to serve others. Help us share all we have. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: What keeps us from sharing out of the abundance we have?
Serve until all are fed! Pastor Liz
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