Daily Devotional for November 10

 

November 10                                            Matthew 14:13-21

        "...Jesus looked up to heaven, and blessed, and
      broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the
                 disciples gave them to the crowds."

One day God decided to come to earth, for God had heard the
people's cries of affliction. On the appointed day, God set out
across the expanse of space that stretches like a sea between
heaven and earth; and as the boat approached the shore there
was a great throng waiting. When God saw the throng, God
had compassion on them, and spent the day healing the sick.

That evening God's disciples wanted to send the crowds away
to buy food for themselves; but God said, "They will not find
the food for which they hunger in the nearby villages. Let them
stay; I will find a way to satisfy their need."

Then God saw five loaves of bread near the disciples. God said
to the loaves, "Will any of you offer yourself for these people?
To satisfy their hunger is the very highest calling, but if you
give yourself to this purpose, you will be broken and die. Still,
I will change you into something new when it is all over."

There was a long pause as the loaves searched their hearts.
Finally the smallest one said, "I will give myself to feed this
great throng." The loaf trustingly placed itself in God's hands,
who blessed, and broke, and gave it to the disciples to give to
the crowds. When everyone was satisfied, the disciples gathered
and offered to God twelve baskets of fragments -- for,
miraculously, those who had eaten of the sacrificial bread had
become like the bread themselves!

God said, "We will invite these fragments in due time to offer
themselves to feed other crowds that come hungry." And at
God's right hand the risen Christ appeared and said, "Amen."

​

From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C.