You Give Them Something to Eat

Daily Reading: Mark 6

Scripture Focus: You give them something to eat. (Mark 6.37)

Devotional Thought: “Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little fish. But that is not enough for so many people.” (John 6.9)

I teach a Sunday School class that is made up of 3rd grade through 5th grade children. One of the things I have learned from them is that they want to be a part of the activity or lesson of the day. They volunteer to write the memory verses on the white board or to read the next paragraph in the lesson, and they do so with enthusiasm.

In today’s scripture, Jesus had 5000 people following him. He points out to the disciples that these people are hungry, and you need to find some bread to feed them. It seems the disciples had no answers for the situation, but a small boy had an answer. I can imagine that small boy overhearing Jesus say to the disciples that food was needed and becoming excited because he could share his food with others. I see him waving his arms and jumping up and down and saying, “I will share what I have!” The disciples could only see 5000 people, but the boy could see the need and had a desire to help meet the need.

What do you see? Do you see the need in your church or community? Do you have a desire to be a part of the solution? Remember you can make a difference - you can give them something to eat, for Christ "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." (Ephesians 3:20).

-Steve Hamilton

Prayer: Father, may we see the needs that are around us today and act to do our part to help meet those needs. Let your power work through and in us today.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 5.1-6

1 Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. 2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. 3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. 5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. 6 You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.