Encouragement for Today

May 31, 2023 Remember the Loaves BINU SAMUEL Lee en español

“Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?” Matthew 16:9 (NIV)

At the start of last summer, as my boys returned home from college for vacation, I immediately recognized situations in their lives that I needed to add to my prayer list. I’ll be honest: These needs caused my heart to be heavy.

So I fasted and prayed, and in time, I saw a breakthrough! Woo-hoo! Praise Jesus!

But while the praise was still on my lips (I was literally mid-praise dance), another trial came my way. And my heart was heavy … again.

That’s when I had a thought I believe the Holy Spirit placed in my mind: Remember the loaves.

It’s what Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 16:9-10. Jesus and His disciples had just crossed the lake after the Pharisees and Sadducees demanded a sign from Jesus to prove His power. Jesus began warning His friends that these religious leaders were like yeast, which symbolized corruption.

His disciples were confused. Yeast was often used in baking, so they wondered, Is He talking about bread? (Spoiler alert: He wasn’t.)

But before He cleared up their confusion, Jesus addressed the bigger issue it revealed: The disciples were forgetting their own experiences of God’s power.

Jesus asked, “You of little faith … Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?” (Matthew 16:8-10, NIV).

In other words, Jesus was saying, “Really, disciples, don’t you realize by now that provision is not an issue for Me?”

I often wonder how in the world the disciples could have doubted God’s power. They had seen Jesus calm storms, raise the dead, feed 5,000 people with one meal, and so much more! These men had experienced the miraculous firsthand.

But then again, so have I … and if you've heard the Good News that Jesus gave His life on the cross and rose again for you, then you have too!

Jesus is our miraculous Savior. He has healed me, rescued me from my own poor choices, provided for my every need, and protected me in ways I’ll never know.

So this past summer, as that new trial came my way, I was encouraged by the sweet reminder to remember the loaves. To remember the power of prayer. To remember that the same God who allowed me to see a breakthrough in that last trial will get me through this one too.

Whatever is weighing heavy on your heart, perhaps the Holy Spirit will whisper to you as He whispered to me … Remember the loaves.

Dear Jesus, thank You. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for Your love for me. You have guided me, and Your provision is endless. Please forgive me for doubting You when trials arise. May I never forget Your faithfulness in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (NIV).

Psalm 103:2, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits …” (KJV).

Have you ever experienced an “only God” breakthrough moment — a situation in which you had no doubt that God was at work in your life? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section!

© 2023 by Binu Samuel. All rights reserved.

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