Matthew 14:15-21
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
15 As
evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote
place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to
the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus
replied, “They
do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We
have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring
them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on
the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he
gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the
disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the
disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The
number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and
children.
Remember the setting, Jesus has
just found out that His cousin had been beheaded. He withdrew to mourn, the people followed,
and He had compassion. Now He has talked
to them for so long that it is time to go eat.
The disciples tell Him to send them away so the people can eat. Was it the people the disciples were concerned
about or were they tired and ready to go eat themselves?
So many times I think that we
have a tendency to think about ourselves while trying to cover it by saying we
are concerned for others. We get tired
and worn out. We want someone or
something to ourselves. I would think
the disciples probably had many questions for Jesus as well. Were they going to be the next to be
beheaded? Was this an isolated incident or
were others going to be innocently executed because of their faith? This had to
be a scary time. Maybe the disciples
wanted to be able to ask Jesus these questions.
Maybe the disciples were ready to sit and rest for a little while, ready
to shut their eyes, ready to just have a little peace and quiet. But take note
of what Jesus had them do. He had them
gather the little food that was there, bring it to Him, distribute it, and pick
up the pieces.
What is Jesus asking you to do
today? Are you tired, ready for some peace and quiet, ready to shut your eyes
and rest, ready for everyone to go home?
Maybe He is asking you to bring what you have to Him. If you do, He will give you what you need in
order to serve Him and bring glory to His name.
Our focus needs to not be on what we don’t have and it doesn’t need to
be on others and what they don’t have, it needs to be on the One who provides
all. When we bring our trials, sorrow,
concerns to Him, His provisions will be enough to satisfy us. For when we bring Him glory, we will have
joy.
Seek Him, find Him, glorify Him,
in all you say and do.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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