Thursday, March 27, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: Matthew 14
Imagine sitting on the side of a mountain listening to Jesus teach.
You have walked from a nearby city, just to get a glimpse of this controversial man. All day, you have witnessed Jesus heal the sick and have been mesmerized by his words.
And the crowd! Five thousand men, and even more women and children are gathered around you.
However, it’s been a long day, and you didn’t bring anything to eat. The disciples want to send everyone away, but Jesus has a different plan.
Matthew 14:19-20
19Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.
Imagine watching Jesus prepare a meal, miraculously creating enough food to feed thousands of people. Everyone eats their fill, and still, twelve baskets full of leftovers remain.
Where once there had been a shortage, Jesus provided a surplus!
Jesus doesn’t want to only satisfy our physical hunger. He also wants to meet our spiritual needs, our craving for him. This is exactly what he did on the mountain, where he abundantly provided for all who sought to learn from him.
Through his Words in the Bible, his nearness when we pray, and connection to our brothers and sisters in Christ, he offers to fill our souls too.
While imagining the Biblical account referenced above, I recall countless times that I’ve witnessed the gospel change someone’s life. His message can sound too good to be true! All we have to do is ask to be forgiven for our sins and allow him to transform us. As we surrender our brokenness to Jesus, bit by bit, he brings deep change, filling the empty places in our souls with his truth.
It’s impossible to attain spiritual wholeness in one sitting. It takes a lifetime of intentionality to replace spiritual hunger with spiritual truth.
How do I know this?
Because God continues to recycle the junk and yuck in my life, replacing it with his peace and true hope in Jesus.
Are you hungry for what only Jesus can provide?
Questions:
What steps do you take to stay spiritually fit? What habit might you add to your routine to become more spiritually healthy?
Next Steps:
Take a step into understanding spiritual health by reading Galatians 5: 22-23, Philippians 4: 6-7, and Romans 12:2. Read what the Bible says about spiritual food.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for the gift of Jesus. Life with Jesus can still be hard, but life without him is unbearable. Nudge me when I get lazy about my spiritual health, and surround me with people who point me toward you. Arrange divine interruptions, whenever I stray from you and your precious Word. Give me courage to be the nudge to those close to my heart, especially those slipping into a spiritual abyss. I never want to take for granted the communion you offer when I choose to lean into Jesus daily. In your son’s precious name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 4:15
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
This post was written by Karen Peck, a Perrysburg attendee, and a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.