Today Daily Devotional

“He answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

— Mark 6:37

Near the beginning of this chap­ter, Jesus describes what life will be like for his disciples if they follow him. He says, “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts” (Mark 6:8). His followers were to be dependent on the hospitality of others to feed, clothe, and shelter them.

Then, sometime later, they are surprised when Jesus asks them to provide a huge, hungry crowd with food. They wonder, “How on earth can we do that?” Even if they work to provide the money for all the food for these people, they will have to work for a whole year!

Perhaps Jesus instructed them to take no bread or money on their journey so that they could experience not only hospitality from others but also the extra­ordinary hospitality of God. Maybe he instructed them not to bring anything so that they could acutely experience their own need and realize that they couldn’t rely on themselves for a solution.

Do you ever feel like you are being brought to the end of your ability to do what God is asking of you? Could God be inviting you to see what he can do for you that you simply cannot do by yourself?

Lord Jesus, sometimes we are like the disciples, unsure and confused and without many options. Sur­prise us with your generosity, and help us to realize that we depend total­ly on you. Amen.

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

— Matthew 13:33

Years ago at a family reunion, one of our relatives asked our uncle for his bread recipe. Because he was a baker and he made many delicious loaves of bread in his bakery each day, our uncle kept his recipe a secret. Eventually, though, he relented. But to everyone’s surprise, the recipe he shared had quantities that could only be handled in a large bakery.

In Jesus’ short parable about yeast working through flour, one of the most surprising details is the amount of flour he describes. Sixty pounds of flour would make over 50 loaves!

Another surprising detail, of course, is the yeast. Here Jesus is challenging his listeners in the way they think about God. Yeast is something so small that it is practically invisible, and yet it has the potential to bring significant growth, making dough to rise dramatically before it is baked into bread.

Why would Jesus talk about little yeast particles that could work surprisingly through so much dough? The kingdom of heaven, he said, is like that yeast. This helps us see that even though we may not always notice it, God is working constantly in and through people’s lives throughout this whole wide world, building up his kingdom and providing us with the “bread of life” that we need in order to have life to the full.

God of wonders, you can use the smallest good things to bring abundant goodness and life as you grow your kingdom every­where. Amen.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

— Matthew 5:6

In many parts of the world, people have heard some variation of the saying “Food tastes better when you are hungry.” Can you think of a time when you were really hungry?

Our need for daily bread is a part of God’s design for us to draw closer to him, knowing that we depend on God for all our daily needs. But God doesn’t want us to stay hungry. He wants us to have the food, clothing, shelter, and opportunities we need in order to flourish, giving us life to the full (John 10:10).

There are many situations in our world, though, where hunger is a major problem, and where a lack of basic necessities is a result of injustice. So our Lord also urges us to “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” which aims for providing justice for all people. Where governments and communities seek to lead by doing what’s right, making laws that are just and equitable for everyone, there is a beginning of justice and righteousness. God’s principles for people living to­gether are honored.

To hunger and thirst for righteousness, desiring and longing for all peoples to live together in peace and with justice, where everyone can flourish (shalom), is God’s design for human living.

Are we seeking justice and righteousness in our world today? If not, why not? This kind of hunger is part of what pulls us closer to God and to each other.

Lord, guide us to “hunger and thirst for righteousness”—that the needs of everyone may be provided for. Amen.

“Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.”

— John 6:57

Jesus tells the people who have come to him with questions that he is the bread of life and that whoever feeds on him will live forever! This is a strange teaching, and not all of the people who heard it could accept it. Can you blame them? It is quite unusual for a teacher to say that whoever eats their flesh will live. When they heard this, some people turned away, saying they could not accept this teaching.

Yet this mystery that we cannot explain rationally is at the heart of the sacrament of communion, the Lord’s Supper. Symbolically we eat and drink the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord, because we accept that he is the one whom God has given to provide us salvation and eternal life. Jesus knows that some people will find this offensive, but he isn’t bothered by that. He promises that the Spirit gives life and that the words he has spoken are “full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63).

Even today these words are hard to explain. They only make sense in the context of faith when we, like Simon Peter, say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Lord Jesus, your words are “full of the Spirit and life.” Help us not to be afraid or alarmed when some people find your words offensive, but enable us to trust your word completely, to feed on you, and to receive the eternal life that only you can give. Amen.

“I am the bread of life. . . . I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

— John 6:48, 51

There were reasons why people were so happy to have an abundance of bread out on the mountainside (John 6:1-13). They were really hungry, and suddenly—miraculously—there was fresh, free bread!

But on the next day some people come to Jesus with a few questions. They know the story of Moses and how God fed his people with manna in the desert (Exodus 16), and they are trying to understand who this new bread-making miracle worker is. They know that their ancestors were fed in the wilderness long ago, so how can Jesus claim to be the one sent by the manna-giving God?

When Jesus tells them that he himself is the bread that came down from heaven, they just can’t believe it. Jesus is saying that he has been sent by God and that he has seen God. And when Jesus says, “Whoever eats this bread will live for­ever,” he is referring back to the miracles God did in the past, and he is pointing forward to the ever­lasting life that is to come. Jesus is putting himself at the very center of the story of all that God is doing to save the whole world. And the only thing we need to do to be a part of what God is doing is to believe in the one God has sent (John 6:29).

Jesus, we believe that you have been sent by God, and we believe that you are the bread of life, which you have given for the life of the whole world. We receive your gift with humble thanks. Amen.

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.

— John 6:11

This story of the miraculous and abundant provision of bread for a hungry crowd is included in all four gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. That’s not a coincidence. This story captures the reality of our deep hunger, Jesus’ surprising and abundant provision, and the various human reactions that followed this miracle. Jesus truly prepared a table for his people!

There’s something so captivating and satisfying about this scene that it’s no wonder it’s included in each gospel account. With a delightful twist Jesus tests his disciples, saying, “Where should we get bread for these people?” And all the while he knows very well what he is about to do.

Imagine Jesus’ joy at being able to provide for everyone! And the way he does this is unexpected: the loaves he multiplies are brought forward by a boy.

How is it possible that Jesus could do this? And how could so many people all have “as much as they wanted”?

Jesus could do this because he is God. And this miracle is merely a sign pointing to something greater—for Jesus is about to reveal to the people (as we will see tomorrow) that he is actually the real bread of life.

Lord Jesus, bread of life, giver of every good gift, we praise and thank you! We look to you in our hunger, and you satisfy us with your abundance. You are truly a miracle-working Savior. Amen.

“How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

— Matthew 7:11

Where I live in Canada, many students and teachers are preparing to go back to school—and for our family that means making school lunches again. We go through quite a lot of bread because we often make sandwiches for lunch. Sometimes one of our kids will come home with an uneaten sandwich, and that can make me wonder, Was it not good? Were they not hungry? Did they not have time to eat it?

In Matthew 7, Jesus emphasizes that if we human parents, as imperfect as we are, know how to provide for our children, how much more does our Father in heaven provide good things for us! The problem is that we don’t always recognize how God provides for us. We expect something else, or we wait for God to feed us only what we want. Sometimes we have no appetite because we’ve filled ourselves with ­other things. Perhaps we have no time to pay attention to God’s goodness because we’ve filled our schedules with other activities.

Hopefully, reflecting on the theme of bread in the Bible will help us to slow down and notice the many ways God satisfied his people in the past, and that God continues to satisfy our needs through his Word and presence in our lives today. Jesus promises to nourish us—in both body and soul.

Lord, thank you for all of your good gifts. Help us to ask for what we need, and to recognize the ways you provide for us each day, that we may receive all that you intend for us in Christ. Amen.

“Give us today our daily bread. . . .”

— Matthew 6:11

As I was growing up, my parents led our family in reading Today devotions after supper each day. One of us four kids would read the Bible passage, and another would read the meditation. It’s no wonder that, for me, reading and reflecting on Scripture is strongly associated with eating bread. Maybe you also read these devotions in connection with a meal. How does your experience of eating influence your appreciation for the nourishment of God’s Word?

Jesus taught his disciples to pray by saying “Give us today our daily bread.” And this reveals a few things. We can boldly ask God to provide for our daily needs. And we can trust that God does provide, though not always in a way we might expect. Our daily bread is something we need, and we are encouraged to ask for it every single day. The Bible is filled with marvelous stories of how God feeds and cares for his people, showing in particular that bread is a rich symbol of God’s provision and presence.

Our response to God’s gift of daily bread is often an indicator of where we stand in relationship with God. Do we trust God to provide, or do we try to take things into our own hands? And can we see that the many passages about bread in the Bible somehow point to the nurturing gift of Jesus, the bread of life, who is given for us?

Lord, we are hungry—in body and soul—for what only you can provide. “Give us today our daily bread.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

— 1 John 4:1

This month we have reflected on submitting to God so that we can discern how to live by his will. And here John helps us remember that we need to test all the words and voices and messages we hear “to see whether they are from God.”

False spirits and their false teachings can cause us to stray from fully depending on God. But we do not stand alone—nor should we—as we face the challenges of persevering in the faith. Alongside the Bible and the Holy Spirit, we have pastors, parents, teachers, and friends who can help us “test the spirits.” Believers in Jesus have been given communities of faith to help and encourage us—and to be ready, in turn, to receive our help as well.

Pray for your church leaders, asking that they will be faithful servants of the Lord’s people. Give them time to wait for directions of wisdom from the Lord for Jesus’ sake. Pray with your family when decisions need to be made. Pray for school administrators and teachers, asking that they may follow the way of Jesus in their teaching and in guiding children. Pray also for government leaders, appointed by God to lead in their particular areas and regions.

Never forget that our God is Lord over all, and that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Be humble before him and bear the fruit of the Spirit, to his honor and glory.

Lord of all, guide us to live by your wisdom, for Jesus’ sake. Fill us with your Spirit to serve for your glory. Amen.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

— Proverbs 3:5-6

I cannot count the times my mother quoted this verse to me—and with good reason. I was heading down a proverbial path that would only cause me disappointment or pain—yet I was too young to understand. Even though my own understanding seemed good to me at the time, I slowly learned to seek the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Sin has polluted our willingness to submit to the Lord. The devil tempts us to trust our own way and intuition. God seeks to draw us to himself because he knows best. We are constantly caught in that tug-of-war, leaning one way and then the other. There was a time when I thought I knew it all, but the one thing I did not know was that God had a better way that he was waiting to show me. God’s Word taught me to trust him with the directions.

We are taught to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). I need to pray this prayer more often:

Father, I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed by what I have done and not done. I have not loved you with my heart, soul, mind, and strength; nor have I loved my neighbor as myself. Forgive me, for Jesus’ sake—that I may be a cleansed servant of yours in the world. Amen.