Home > Reading > NALC Devotions – August 26, 2017

Today’s readings: 2 Samuel 5:22–6:11; Acts 17:16-34; Mark 8:1-10

Today, in Mark’s Gospel, we read of the feeding of the 4,000. The original Greek in verse 6 for “took” and “given thanks” and “broke” are expressed with the aorist tense that shows these were definite actions. However, the verb “gave” is in the imperfect tense, showing Jesus continued to give his disciples bread to distribute to the crowd.

That sounds like a lot of technical jargon, and it is just that, except that it points to a profound reality. The disciples were overwhelmed by the numbers of people; Jesus was not. He took what was available, blessed it, then fed all of the people with the bread and fish.

How often do we look at what we have and feel it won’t amount to much, or it won’t amount to anything at all? That is because we depend only upon ourselves. If you put God in the mix, what miraculous things might happen?

Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive my lack of faith and use me to your glory. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Thomas W. Corbell, retired NALC Pastor.

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