Matthew 14:13-21 The Great Picnic
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: April 10, 2019, Matthew 14:13-21
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
(Revelation of God) “Now when Jesus heard this” What is “this”? Is it the death of John the Baptist, or was it that Herod thought that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead? This is another of Matthew’s imprecise summaries. Why did Jesus want to be by himself when he heard of John the Baptist’s death? Was He grieving over John? Was He trying to avoid attention from Herod? Was this a signal that the next stage of His ministry was about to begin, and He wanted time alone with the Father to consider what would happen next or to be spiritually refreshed for what happened next? Regardless of the reason for wanting to be by Himself, the mission did not succeed as people saw where He was headed and rushed to get there first.
(Understanding the Text) A great crowd had gathered by the time the boat docked on shore. I imagine when the disciples first looked up and realized how many people were gathered there, they must have been in shock. Jesus saw the people desiring so much to be reconnected to Him, and He could not turn them away. He stayed with them, healing them and speaking with them all day. Probably about 5:00 p.m., the hungry disciples urged Jesus to send the people away, but Jesus saw the children in the crowd and the distance that the people would have to travel carrying those children in order to reach food. Even then there might not be enough food for 5,000 plus people wherever they went in the surrounding area. In addition, Jesus was beginning a new phase in the training of the disciples, so he told the disciples to feed the people.
The disciples had already taken stock of what they had and knew the exact amount–five loaves and two fish. With thirteen mouths to feed, that would not have made a very big meal just for Jesus’ immediate group. Jesus took that small offering, broke it up and sent it out. At the end, everyone was able to eat until they were satisfied. I think an important lesson is that in giving out to the other people, the disciples ended up with more for themselves than they had had originally. Each one of them had a basketful of bread and fish to eat, whereas before they might have had 1/3 of a loaf and 1/6 of a fish or less.
(Application) My application for myself is that God asks for the impossible and when it is accomplished, there will be a greater reward for me than if I had not expended the faith and energy to stand where He told me in order to accomplish His goals. He supplies abundantly when we are serving Him. I need to serve Him with faith that He will take care of me.
(Prayer) I want to serve You and share in Your abundant compassion. I want to work closely with You and receive the blessings that You give out so freely. Bring me close to You and let me see Your love and mercy. Then teach me to be like You.