A Daily Devotion for Tuesday, October 20

Mark 6:30-46

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

But 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?”

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

I do love this example of Jesus living out his relationship with the Father. He goes away alone, where he will not be interrupted, and reconnects with his heavenly source of all power and love. God is here for us. Frequent, intentional contact with Him is also available to us, just like it was available to Jesus. This is also another reminder to keep a journal. I was talking to some friends last night about answered prayers, and how keeping a journal helps to make us aware of prayers which have indeed been answered, but in a different way than we expected. In the end, it is all about communication with God- frequent, personal, quiet time with God.

Holy Lord, I am thankful beyond words for your comforting presence. You must love me, indeed, to give me this gift. Amen

Becky, transforming