Today's Verse: Luke 9:13

Saturday, September 13, 1952

[When his disciples wondered how to feed the huge crowd who had been with them several days and were famished, Jesus] replied, "You give them something to eat."

 

They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish — unless we go and buy food for all this crowd."

— Luke 9:13
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Thoughts on Today's Verse...

I love the way Jesus got his disciples' attention in this situation. He challenged them "to do immeasurably more than all [they] ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20-21). Basically, Jesus told them, "You feed them, boys!" Of course, they knew that they couldn't! Yet Jesus showed them they could do amazing things if they brought their meager resources to him. When the big picnic was over, each of those limited disciples got to pick up a basket full of leftovers from the table of Jesus' grace (Luke 9:17). Let's remember our challenge is the limited resources we see but our unwillingness to bring what we have to Jesus and trust that he will do something with us, and those resources, to bless others in ways we couldn't have dreamed!

Video Commentary...

We've included Phil's ToGather video from four years ago as an added blessing to our verse today:

ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos

My Prayer...

All praise to you, Abba Father, for your extravagant help and mercy in times of need, your loving and generous provision in times of want, and your surprising and exciting use of my limited resources as I seek to do your will. I know that you have entrusted me with what I have to accomplish the work you have called me to do as I serve to bless others. Forgive me, Father, for not trusting you to make what I think are my meager resources more than enough to do your work in my world! In Jesus' name, I ask for your grace fully confident and praising you for your sufficiency. Amen.

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4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Loaves and Fishes
Illustration of Luke 9:13
Inspirational illustration of Luke 9:13 -- He replied, "You give them something to eat." They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish--unless we go and buy food for all this crowd."
Called to the Impossible
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Why is it so important to recognize that the bread is broken? Because we are broken, too! Phil Ware continues his series of Communion Devotionals called Beyond Bread and Wine that focuses on all the depth, meaning, and significance to the Lord's Supper.

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 9:13 — [When his disciples wondered how to feed the huge crowd who had been with them several days and were famished, Jesus] replied, "You give them something to eat."   They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish — unless we go and buy food for all this crowd."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, September 13, 1952

Quotemeal
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Quote by William Temple:
"I can contribute nothing to my own salvation, except the sin from which I need to be redeemed."
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A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Leviticus 11:45
"I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Colossians 2:6
"The life of faith is represented as receiving-an act which implies the very opposite of anything like merit. It is simply the acceptance of a gift. As..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Sing it Out!' (Ps. 107:22)
"Tell the world [all the wonderful things God has done to save and bless you] — sing it out!"

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

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