Verse: Matthew 15:29-39
29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. 32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” 33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” 34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children.39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
Devotion:
In this passage, we see a beautiful illustration of Jesus’ compassion and care for the multitude that had gathered around Him. After three days of teaching and healing, the people were physically exhausted and hungry. Jesus, aware of their condition, does not simply dismiss their needs or give them a brief teaching on spiritual sustenance. Instead, He feels deep compassion for them and takes action to address their physical need, hunger.
This moment perfectly captures the heart of Jesus—He sees the needs of those around Him and responds with love and provision. It serves as a reminder that our God is not only concerned with our spiritual well-being but also intimately involved in our physical needs. He cares about our struggles, our hunger, our pain, and our exhaustion. He’s in all of the details with us. This serves as such a good reminder for me. Sometimes, it feels easier to pray for the big “miracle” needs, but like I can’t ask for the practical things that I need, as if it’s too insignificant for God. Or, even more laughably, when it feels like something I should be able to handle on my own. God has taught me this lesson with finances, time and time again. Take a minute to reflect- do you have a practical need in your life that God is trying to show you He cares for? How has He been weaving His care for you into your story to show you how He can show up for ALL of our needs?
The disciples express their doubts about being able to feed such a large crowd with so little. Which again, feels laughably relatable to me. They’ve witnessed Him perform so many miracles at this point, but they still doubt Him. Honestly, I do the exact same thing. God shows up time and time again, but I still doubt and let my fears take over far too often. Even so, the disciples reaction doesn’t phase Jesus or stop Him from meeting a need. Jesus asks them what they have, and they present Him with seven loaves and a few small fish. Despite the seemingly inadequate resources, Jesus takes what they offer, gives thanks, breaks the bread, and distributes it to the people.
This moment teaches us about the power of gratitude and the importance of offering what we have to God, no matter how limited it may seem. When we bring our small offerings to Him, He can multiply and use them in ways we could never imagine. The act of giving thanks before the miracle occurs is a powerful reminder that acknowledging God’s provision opens the door for His abundance. We can cultivate a habit of gratitude in our daily lives when we think back on this lesson. How much has He already shown up to meet our needs, big and small? Before we ask for more, we can take time to thank God for what we already have. We can recognize His past provisions, and watch how it changes our perspective on our current circumstances.
In moments of doubt or scarcity, we can remember that Jesus is aware of all of our needs. He has the ability to provide abundantly, even when it seems impossible. We can lean into our faith, knowing that He is with us and working on our behalf.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your unwavering compassion and love. Help me to see the needs around me and give me the courage to respond with kindness and generosity. Teach me to offer what I have, no matter how small it may seem, and to trust in Your ability to multiply it for Your glory. May I approach You with a heart of gratitude, recognizing all that You have done in my life. Thank You for being my provider and for caring about every aspect of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Author: Becca Artymenko
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