Living in the Spirit

August 6, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 14:13-21
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

We interpret this scripture in differing ways, but one way that provides a lesson for all is that there is enough to meet everyone’s basic needs in our world if everyone is willing to share. I can envision moms packing lunch as families go forth to hear this preacher speak. Some may not have packed enough or had enough to pack, and some may have come unprepared for whatever reason.  The bottom line was that enough food was available if people were willing to share.

Prayer: Lord, teach us to ensure that all have enough of the necessities of life using all the vast ways available to do that. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.