Word for the day “Leaders the Lord is our spiritual sustenance”
Matthew 14:13 (NKJV) When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude, and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
The Lord has and provides the spiritual sustenance we need for our lives.
Beloved leaders, our devotional message today shares the miracle of Jesus and, the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus instructs the crowd to sit and prepare to be served, and they do so on the grass. Taking the loaves and dried fish, Jesus makes a meal that satisfies the enormous crowd. They are hungry, tired, and worn out from their exertions from a full day in the eastern world heat, and Jesus gives them sustenance for the day.
The great leader and historian Thomas Aquinas, points out the metaphor for the Eucharist is “sustenance” and sustainability, food for the journey. The Eucharist is daily food, sustenance for the journey, nourishment to get us through the day to day. The Lord here is sharing some spiritual value in a practical manner. Be advised, this is message is sharing two powerful truths. One on a natural level and the other on a spiritual level. So, in the spiritual life, we must eat and drink or we will not have strength.
Is this just meant in some vague symbolic way? No, rather in a vividly concise and real way. For just as the body needs physical nourishment, the spirit needs spiritual nourishment, and there is no getting around this principle of God.
The Lord is still in the business of doing miracles in and for our lives.
Point to ponder
A great measure of our lives must be connected to daily prayer, repentance, and being connected to the local church. To be absent or negligent in these aspects of our spiritual lives sets us up for spiritual malnourishment.
Special thanks!
James Baker, Jr. and our leadership team are especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of August 2022, by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Itholear Abbott, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Jeanette Grant, Ms. Angela Battle, Ms. Cynthia Artis-Waiters, Ms. Michelle Winder Branch, Ms. Angie Scraders-Murphy, Mr. Calvin Jackson, Mrs. Shakeema Lowe, Mr. William Jones, Mr. Calvin Griffith, Mrs. Angela Harrison, Ms. Crystal Grant, Ms. Shawna Chester, Ms. Jennifer Sanchez, Ms. Evelyn Rosado, Mr. William Wilson, and Ms. Gertrude Scott.
Thank you for using the word cup devotionals brought to you through Grace and Truth Leadership. Why don’t you take the opportunity to write to us on our blog and let us know how we are doing in serving you.
We are a faith-based, donor-supported ministry. If you have been touched by these daily devotionals and would like to make a monthly pledge or a special gift of any amount, please use the DONATE link to give as the Lord leads.
Follow me on Twitter @James Baker_jr as I endeavor to encourage and empower leaders of today and tomorrow!
Kingdom Blessings,