A simple meal becomes a feast

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and had enough, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of what was left over. (verses 16, 17)

Read Luke 9: 1-17 

It was a simple, frugal meal. Bread and fish, although adequate, would hardly be described as haute cuisine. But there was plenty – enough to fill more than five thousand people. Everyone was satisfied. There were even leftovers.

Blessed by God, five small loaves of bread and two fish became a meal for a hungry multitude, and in the sharing of it a simple meal became a feast.

If you are in need of spiritual food, God supplies it in abundance in his word. In the Bible we receive the bread of life to fill and nourish our hungry souls.

Blessed by God, his word becomes a feast for us – especially when we share it with others.

Lord, through your word may I be blest,
0 nourish me, your humble guest, with bread of life here given;
may by this word my faith prevail, so that its fruit will never fail
till I serve you in heaven.

Johan Nordahl Brun 1745-1816
Tr. Oluf Hansen Smeby, 1913
Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement 265, v 3

by Grace Bock, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.