Word for the day: “Leaders, the Lord has what you need.”
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.
Beloved Leaders,
Today’s devotional and leadership message 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 exerting themselves for a full day in the Eastern world heat, and Jesus gives them sustenance for the day.
THE LORD HAS AND PROVIDES THE SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE WE NEED FOR OUR LIVES.
The great leader and historian Thomas Aquinas points out that the metaphor for the Eucharist is “sustenance” and sustainability, food for the journey. The Eucharist is daily food, sustenance for the journey, and nourishment to get us through the day-to-day. The Lord here is practically sharing some spiritual value. Be advised that today’s message shares two powerful truths. On a natural level and the other on a spiritual level. So, in our natural 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. Second, 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. One of those miracles is providing messages like today and reminding us that we all need not only our physical appetites to be satisfied but, just as importantly, our spiritual hunger and appetite to be met and sustained.
POINT TO PONDER
A significant measure of our lives must be connected to daily prayer, repentance, and involvement in the local church. To be absent or negligent in these aspects of our spiritual lives sets us up for spiritual malnourishment. Whatever you do as a leader, make sure you are constantly working on and towards your spiritual vitality and relationship with the Lord.
Special Thanks,
Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO) James Baker, Jr., and our leadership team are incredibly thankful to those aligned with us. Help us equip this generation of leaders for their God-given assignments. Your generous donation supports our labor of love, From Grace and Truth Leadership's mission to embrace, empower, and encourage leaders and emerging leaders globally.