Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. John 6:11
To feed the thousands who had come to Him in an uninhabited place, Jesus took the available food supplies -- five loaves and two fish -- blessed them, and so multiplied them that "all ate and were satisfied" (Matthew 14:20).
In another wilderness God nourished His people by providing manna from heaven, truly a miracle bread. On the occasion mentioned in today's reading the Son of God took earthly means and by His miraculous power multiplied them into rations sufficient for a multitude. In both wildernesses, divine love brought divine power into play for the nurture of needful people.
God is a true mathematician. He adds, as He lays blessings to blessings; He subtracts, as He removes what is harmful to us; He divides, as He makes parts of His bountiful supplies and "He gives ... to each one, just as He determines" (1 Corinthians 12:11). He also multiplies, as He takes what little is at hand and increases it for the benefit of all. He routinely multiplies the seeds we sow into a harvest of many seeds. As a matter of course He uses earthly means, however meager, to provide, to heal, to make us whole in our physical lives. These acts although commonly and frequently performed, involve miracles nonetheless.
The greatest miracle of divine love occurs when our Lord through ordinary food and drink -- the consecrated bread and wine of Holy Communion -- conveys to us His true body and blood once given and once shed for the remission of our sins. Thanks to His generosity, these gifts for our spiritual nurture are never exhausted. With each use they are multiplied.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for all Your benefits to me. Amen.
(Devotions from "With Jesus Every Day" copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 49-50 Matthew 23:23-29
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