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The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 14 July 2019 – Go Extra Mile
TOPIC: Go Extra Mile
READ: Matthew 14:16-30 King James Version (KJV)
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
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25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
THE MESSAGE:
True compassion is expressed by love in action. In simple reasoning, the disciples were not wrong to tell Jesus to send the multitude away (verse 15). But by faith, they were wrong. Jesus understands our limit in helping ourselves. In time of confusion of thought and hopelessness, He brings solution from angles we least expected help. It was not recorded that the multitude requested for food, but the way they sat down to eat shows that they were hungry. God will satisfy your pressing needs. Notice how they were all directed to sit down on the grass, irrespective of their personalities. It takes humility to receive special miracles from God. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (1Peter 5:5). In verses 22-23, we notice how Jesus separated Himself from the multitude for personal reflections. He often made room in His busy schedule to be alone with His Father. Develop the discipline of spending time alone with God. It will build your spiritual life.
A good leader needs to be competent and compassionate. Learning from Jesus, you don’t have any justification to abandon people whom God has placed you in a position to help. Please don’t send them away. Settle them; especially those that have been with you for a long time. Learn also to make out time for retreat and personal communion with God. If Jesus, with all His work-load could do it, you can also do it. Let this passage today influence your life decisions.
Prayer: Help me heavenly Father to do the right thing at the right time.
