Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:16

A young boy came home from church and announced with great excitement that the lesson had been about a boy who “loafed and fished all day.” He, of course, was thinking of the little boy who offered his loaves and fish to Jesus.

Jesus had been teaching the crowds all day, and the disciples suggested He send them into the village to buy bread. Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16). The disciples were perplexed for there were more than 5,000 to be fed!

You may know the rest of the story: a boy gave his lunch—five small loaves of bread and two fish—and with it Jesus fed the crowd (vv. 13–21). One school of thought contends that the boy’s generosity simply moved others in the crowd to share their lunches, but Matthew clearly intends us to understand that this was a miracle, and the story appears in all four gospels.

What can we learn? Family, neighbors, friends, colleagues, and others stand around us in varying degrees of need. Should we send them away to those who are more capable than we are? Certainly, some people’s needs exceed our ability to help them, but not always. Whatever you have—a hug, a kind word, a listening ear, a brief prayer, some wisdom you’ve gathered—give it to Jesus and see what He can do.

By:  David H. Roper

What’s one need of another person that you may be able to meet? What can you give to Jesus to be used to bless others?

Jesus, give us eyes to see the ways we can care for others. Lead us and use us.

This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name. Acts 9:15

I’ll never forget the time I took my future wife to meet my family. With a twinkle in their eyes, my two elder siblings asked her, “What exactly do you see in this guy?” She smiled and assured them that by God’s grace I had grown to be the man she loved.

I loved that clever reply because it also reflects how, in Christ, the Lord sees more than our past. In Acts 9, He directed Ananias to heal Saul, a known persecutor of the church whom God had blinded. Ananias was incredulous at receiving this mission, stating that Saul had been rounding up believers in Jesus for persecution and even execution. God told Ananias not to focus on who Saul had been but on who he had become: an evangelist who would bring the good news to all the known world, including to the gentiles (those who weren’t Jews) and to kings (v. 15). Ananias saw Saul the Pharisee and persecutor, but God saw Paul the apostle and evangelist.

We can sometimes view ourselves only as we have been—with all of our failures and shortcomings. But God sees us as new creations, not who we were but who we are in Jesus and who we’re becoming through the power of the Holy Spirit. O God, teach us to view ourselves and others in this way!

By:  Peter Chin

How can you begin to better view yourself and others in light of who you are in Christ today? How does it encourage you to know God isn’t through growing and refining you?

Heavenly Father, help me to find my full identity in You. Allow me to humbly see others through Your eyes of grace!

Scripture: Matthew 18: 1-4

Verse For Today: Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19: 14)

There are times when we simply do not know what to do, no matter how old we are of how mature we might be. In those moments, we want to trust in God, but it’s often difficult to actually step out in faith.

During World War II, the King of England ordered an evacuation of children from the bomb-torn areas of London. Since many of the youngsters had never been away from home before, they were upset. A mother and father put their young son and daughter aboard a crowded train and said good-bye.

The little girl began to cry. She told her brother she was scared because she didn’t know where they were going. Brushing his tears away, he put his arm around her to comfort her. “I don’t know where we’re going either,” he said. “But the King knows.”

Many of us feel uprooted, unwanted and alone. But though we may not always understand the feelings of our family, our peers or society in general, we can trust in the fact that God understands and knows where we are and where we are going. After all, if we trust, God is doing the leading. By trusting and loving God, we can be assured that someone knows where we are at all times and is watching over us.

Holy Parent, take my hand in the confusion of being lost, rejected, or just feeling like I’m floating alone. I’m confident that You know where I am!

He who finds his life shall lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:39)

Justice happens when a criminal is found guilty and condemned for his actions or when one is found innocent who has done nothing wrong. Our society today places a high value on finding the truth of a situation and holding accountable the appropriate person and freeing the innocent one. In our culture and courts, judges, juries, lawyers and verdicts that attempt in the most scrutinizing way, to administer justice fairly.

Pontius Pilate said blatantly to the mob before him, “I find no fault in this man!” There would have been reason to conclude from this that the mob lacked sufficient evidence to prove that Jesus had done anything wrong or punishable and that the case was closed. But Pilate began to fear the mob and their demands. Therefore he relented and turned Jesus over to feel the administration of “justice” at the hands of those who hated and feared him. The mob condemned an innocent man and no power of persuasion within Pilate could deter them from the destruction they wanted to impart.

Our faith and trust in God is a positive judgment we make based on evidence around us. The affirmed Christian is one who has chosen to recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah and the Son of the Living God. On the basis of evidence and the administration of justice, the believer makes a commitment to follow Christ. It is not a judgment to condemn, but a judgment to live with and for Jesus Christ.

God of Justice, may the judgment of our hearts, in view of the evidence presented, lead us to our personal relationship with Christ!

He that reproves a scorner gathers to himself shame; and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot. (Proverbs 9:7)

When Charles Spurgeon was still a boy preacher, he was warned about a certain woman in the congregation who had a reputation for being extremely quarrelsome. He was informed that she was intending to give him a good tongue-lashing when she found him.

Spurgeon said, “All right! But that’s a game that two can play.”

Shortly after that, the woman met Spurgeon and began to assault him with a flood of verbal abuse. He simply smiled back at her and said, “Oh, yes. Thank you. I’m quite well, thanks. Thank you for asking. I hope all is well with you too.”

His remarks were followed by another tirade of know-it-all comments, this time with her voice at a higher volume. He again smiled and responded, “Yes, it does look rather like it might rain. I think I better be going now.”

The woman stood for a moment watching as he walked away. She threw her arms in the air and said, “Bless the man. What’s the use of storming at him. He’s deaf as a post!”

Never again did the woman confront Spurgeon, or even attempt to speak to him. And never did he tell her what he had done. Spurgeon’s lesson to us was that some people will argue for no reason, and it is better to walk away than attempt to converse with them.

Creator God, grant us the wisdom to hold our tongue, even when others around us are not holding theirs!

Rejoice evermore. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5: 16, 18)

An old legend tells how a man once stumbled on a great red barn after wandering for days in a dark, overgrown forest. Seeking refuge from the howling winds of a storm that seemed to rage perpetually in the forest, he let his eyes grow accustomed to the dark and then, to his astonishment, he discovered that this was the barn where Satan kept his storehouse of seeds to be sown into the human hearts. More curious than fearful, he lit a match and began to explore the piles and bins of seeds around him. He couldn’t help but notice that the containers labeled “seeds of discouragement” far outnumbered any other type of seeds.

Just as the man had drawn this conclusion, one of Satan’s foremost demons arrived to pick up a fresh supply of seed. The man asked him why the great abundance of discouragement seeds. The demon laughed, “Because they are so effective and they take root so easily!” The man asked, “Do they grow everywhere?” At this the demon became sullen. He glared at the man and admitted in disgust, “No. They never seem to thrive in the heart of a grateful person.”

Be thankful for what you have today, and trust the Lord to take care of what you do not have!

Most Holy God, we are thankful to You for all that we have, even when we don’t realize we have it; may our gratitude keep us safe from the discouragements of the world around us!

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4: 18)

A man had just buried his wife. His little daughter had lost her mother. Their hearts seemed to be breaking, and loneliness engulfed them as they came home to an empty house. At bedtime the father placed the little girl’s bed near his own. Then he turned out the light and lay down. After a while, through the darkness, came the little girl’s voice, “Daddy, are you there?”

And he answered, “Yes, Dear, I’m here. Now you go to sleep.”

After a period of silence, the little voice came again, “Daddy, are you still there?”

Once again he answered patiently, “Yes, Dear, I’m still here. Now go to sleep.”

After a long period of silence her voice came again, this time more confident, “Daddy, I can’t see you, but I know you’re there.”

Social pressures, abandonment of friends or family, misunderstanding and irrational fears - we live in a world where many strange gods compete for our loyalty. But even when we are trapped by our own fears or the fears of others, let us never forget the abiding love and security we can find in our Creator, even when we can’t see God.

Holy Parent, you are always there, even though we cannot see you. Hold our hand in the midst of our dark moments.