What Jesus Did : Matthew 14:15-21 - Blessed Beyond Resources
by Phil Ware
Blessed Beyond Resources - Matthew 14:15-21
Late that afternoon, the followers came to Jesus and said, "No people live in this place. And it is already late. Send the people away so they can go to the towns and buy food for themselves." Jesus answered, "The people don't need to go away. You give them some food to eat." The followers answered, "But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish." Jesus said, "Bring the bread and the fish to me." Then Jesus told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. Jesus looked into the sky and thanked God for the food. Then Jesus divided the loaves of bread. Jesus gave the bread to the followers, and the followers gave the bread to the people. All the people ate and were filled. After the people finished eating, the followers filled twelve baskets with the pieces of food that were not eaten. There were about 5,000 men there that ate. There were also women and children that ate. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Don't you just love it that the disciples who didn't think they could do anything to feed the whole crowd each got to pick up a basket full of pieces that were left over! Jesus has a way of using, teaching, and rebuking us all at the same time when we don't have faith that what needs to be done can be done with his blessing.
What doors of opportunity is the Lord opening for you to minister through right now? Are you afraid you don't have the resources? Remember, Jesus' power is great when the glory goes to God, ministry is for others, we pool our resources, we offer what we have to him, and we are motivated out of compassion!Today's Prayer
Loving and gracious Father, give me courage and faith to believe you can bless my meager resources when I bring them to you. Forgive me for being so timid when you long to use me to minister for your glory. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Jesus did not stay in Nazareth. He went and lived in Capernaum, a town near the lake (Lake Galilee). Capernaum is in the area near Zebulun and Naphtali. Jesus did this to make happen what the prophet Isaiah said: "{Look at} the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the lands by the road that goes to the sea, the area past the Jordan River— Galilee, the land where non-Jewish people live. Those people live in darkness (sin), but they have seen a great light; the light has come for those people that live in the land that is dark like a grave." From that time Jesus began to tell people {what God wanted}. This is what he said: "Change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is coming soon." Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee. He saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Simon's brother Andrew. The two brothers were fishermen and they were fishing in the lake with a net. Jesus said, "Come follow me. I will make you {a different kind of} fishermen. You will work to gather people, {not fish}." Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus. Jesus continued walking by Lake Galilee. He saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee. They were preparing their nets to catch fish. Jesus told the brothers to come with him.-- Matthew 4:13-21 (ERV)
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