Tag: God’s Provisions

Devotionals

Leftovers

Loring Schultz

Read: Matthew 14:13-21 NLT – Jesus Feeds Five Thousand – As soon as – Bible Gateway

“They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.” Matthew 14:20 NLT

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What do you do with the leftovers after you have finished your evening meal? For some there may not be any, but for my wife and I since it is just the two of us we always have something leftover. Usually we save it for the next day or if it will keep until the day after. We most likely come home with a box from a restaurant on the evenings we dine out. Some might say we’re not big eaters, but I would beg to differ, like most people we like to eat. The same was true in Jesus’s day. People liked to and needed to eat.

Jesus had the opportunity to feed over five thousand people after they came to Him for healing and to hear His teaching. It was also an opportunity to display His compassion, His miraculous power, and His concern for the leftovers.  Jesus had compassion for the people for in Mark’s version it says “he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mk. 6:34) His miraculous power was seen in the distribution of the loaves and fish to the more than five thousand people for he only had five loaves and two fish to start with, but He made it work. Jesus supplied more than enough and didn’t want to see any waste. John’s account in his gospel says, “After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, ‘Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.’” (Jn. 6:12)

Our Lord will never fail to meet our needs. In fact, as with the feeding of the multitude He will often supply more than enough. Perhaps not more than we want, but certainly more than we need. Enough for us and enough left over to share with others in need. The disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. One for each of them to remind them of Jesus’s ability to care for their needs, to understand that with Him little becomes much, and to not waste any leftovers He has blessed us with, but to use it to serve Him as He directs.

Devotionals

God’s Providential Care for Every Living Thing

Loring Schultz

“The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.” Psalm 145:15-16 NLT

Photo by Ivan Rudoy on Unsplash

Have you ever thought about the ways God provides food for animals in the wild and living creatures in the sea? It is amazing to witness their instant as they prey upon their victims, their food source. We may find it hard to watch, but it is by God’s design and the victim had their own fill before that dreadful moment. The bottom line is God has a plan to provide food for every living being and that includes us as human beings.

The psalmist writes the eyes of all look to God in hope and are given food from above when needed. Animals do not possess the nature of sensing God but they have the instinct given by God that directs them in what they need to survive. When they are hungry they know where to go to find food. God does provide for them. “When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.” (Ps.145:16 nlt) And that includes every animal and every fish of the sea.

Most importantly that includes every one of us. It is hard to comprehend this when we see so much starvation in the world, but that doesn’t negate God’s providential care for us. He has provided us with rich resources and the ability to feed the world. The problem lies in that the world is sinful, turning our backs on God, and going our own selfish way. This creates the current chaotic times we live in which includes undernourished people across the world. But Jesus’ hands and feet are on the earth in those who know Him. God will use us in His providential care for every person who needs help in their daily supplies. May we be willing participates in God’s providential care for every living thing.

Devotionals

Lifted Up His Eyes

Loring Schultz

Read: Genesis 13:1-13 ESV – Abram and Lot Separate – So Abram went – Bible Gateway

Read: Genesis 19:23-29 ESV – God Destroys Sodom – The sun had risen – Bible Gateway

“And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)” Genesis 13:10 ESV

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You wouldn’t think taking a good look around, analyzing what is best for you and your family, then proceeding in that direction would end up in tragedy. But that is exactly what happen to a man named Lot in the Old Testament book of Genesis. Lot and his uncle Abram were both wealthy with many flocks and herds. As they traveled together it became increasingly difficult for the land to support both of them, so, Abram proposed they separate. Abram gave Lot the choice in which direction he wanted to go and then he would go in the opposite direction. Lot made his choice and moved on and Abram went his way in the opposite direction.

There is nothing wrong with choosing a good path to travel and then settle down in a prosperous area to make a living. But if your choice is based on greed or selfishness you are bound for trouble. When Abram told Lot he could choose first, the Bible says, “And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD.” (Gen.13:10 esv) Indeed, it was the better of the two directions. Yes, he took what was best for him by sight as he looked around. But he could have offered it to his uncle to see if he wanted it first, no, instead he looked and took what he saw.

Lot’s choice did not work out. It brought him and his family into the area of Sodom and Gomorrah, eventually living in Sodom itself. Many Christians today find themselves being tempted to take the road that seems best by what they see with their eyes without consulting the Lord. We see only on the surface, but the Lord is able to see what lurks underneath what we desire in our greed and selfishness. Let God guide our decisions and not lift up our eyes.

Devotionals

Bottomless Grace 

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Kings 17:8-16 NLT – The Widow at Zarephath – Then the LORD – Bible Gateway

“There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah.” 1 Kings 17:16 NLT

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I enjoy going to a restaurant that serves a bottomless cup of coffee. You never worry if that second cup is coming or will I have enough coffee to finish my meal. There is a story in the Old Testament book of 1 Kings that tells of a poor widow who had a bottomless cup of grace given to her for her faith and obedience to God.

The prophet Elijah predicted there would be no rain for the next couple of years until Elijah spoke it. No rain led to a famine that devastated all of Israel. Elijah wasn’t exempt from feeling the effects of the famine. The Lord did provide for him in miraculous ways, one of them through this poor widow. Elijah was told to go to the town of Zarephath north of Israel along the Mediterranean Sea where he would meet a woman who would feed him. He met her, but she only had enough for one last meal for her and her son and after that she expected they would die. But God told Elijah that she would feed him.

When the woman told Elijah of her dilemma he responded in a way to test her faith as she revealed an awareness of the Lord God Elijah serves. “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!” (1Kg.17:13-14 nlt) The woman would have a bottomless flour and olive oil supply.

She obeyed the word of the Lord and was given bottomless grace for the daily provisions as long as the drought and famine continued. Perhaps you’re facing a dry spell in your life on this day. Maybe you’re in the middle of a spiritual drought. Perhaps the Lord is testing you to step out in faith and help someone at your own expense as the poor widow. She obeyed the Lord and her needs were met. Why not do the same and receive a bottomless cup of grace from the Lord. It’s much better than a bottomless cup of coffee.

Devotionals

What Do You Need?      

Loring Schultz

Read: Matthew 6:31-34 NLT – “So don’t worry about these things, – Bible Gateway

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 NLT

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

There isn’t a person who has ever lived that didn’t have any needs. There is no one alive today who doesn’t have any sort of need. Our God promises to take care of our needs, but there are some of us who fret over a potential future downfall of our income or a rise in our expenses. Will we be able to make ends meet? Well, if that is our attitude, we’re focusing on the wrong things.

Jesus told His disciples and anyone willing to pay attention the remedy for having all we need. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Mt.6:33 nlt) The Lord knows what we need. He also knows what we don’t need, so, don’t expect Him to give it to you. God’s desire for us is to seek His kingdom. Looking upward as opposed to horizontally to the things of this world will help us see the light of what is not needed in this life, but what is needed for eternal life. Our desires will become His desires as we live righteously leading others to the kingdom of God through faith in Christ.

Don’t get caught up worrying about your needs in this life. Trust in the Lord. He will provide. Just make sure your priorities are in order. What do you need? You need to ‘Seek the kingdom of God above all else,’ and let Him do the rest.

Devotionals

Despised or honored?    

Loring Schultz

“But I (God) will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.” 1 Samuel 2:30 NLT

“….. I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal.” Daniel 4:34 NLT

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Have you ever stopped to think of how many things you take for granted on a typical day? You woke up this morning. You had a nourishing breakfast to start your day. If you’re working today, you have a job. Students, you have a school of learning waiting for you. You have transportation to get you there. You have clothes on your back. The sun came up this morning and the moon will rise this evening. We get rain when we need it and sometimes when we don’t need it, but that is in the hands of the rainmaker, our Lord God. In fact, everything we take for granted is supplied by our creator God. We cannot claim anything achieved or possessed as our own. God is the source for it all.

Taking things for granted is taking them too lightly. We expect those things, whatever they are, will always be there without giving thought to their origin. We surmise somehow that we had a part in their existence. When we take for granted everything we have, or put ourselves in control of our own destiny, we are thinking lightly of God. He is the creator and ruler over all things. He is all sufficient and the one who supplies our needs.

Recognizing God is all sufficient and is the Most High and is ruler forever over all things pleases God. The Lord God Himself says, “But I will honor those who honor me.” (1Sam.2:30a nlt) But the Lord also says to us who take too many things for granted, “I will despise those who think lightly of me.” (1Sam.2:30b nlt) The question to ask yourself is, ‘am I despised or honored?’ Let it be, ‘I’m honored.”

Devotionals

God’s Overlapping Provisions

Loring Schultz

“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.” Leviticus 26:3-5 NLT

Photo by April Klein on Unsplash

The Lord God does not neglect His own. He has promised to provide for us, His children. Christians can take comfort in God supplying all our needs. Paul confirmed this as he told the church in Philippi, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ph. 4:19 nlt) How is it then, that from time to time we suffer a shortage of provisions? There are some uncontrollable factors such as the economy of any country in the world you reside in, and the fact we live in a broken world. But there are some things we can control and they’re as old as God’s instructions to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit.” (Lev. 26:4-5 nlt)

The Lord promised the children of Israel He would supply their need if they obeyed the Lord their God. They would not have any lack between seasons. The threshing season started in March and would continue until the grape harvest in July. The grape harvest would then overlap with the season of planting grain. God’s continual provisions would satisfy all their needs.

God’s promise of overlapping provisions is still in effect today for every Christian claiming Jesus Christ as their savior, and the same conditions still apply. Paul warns us, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” (Gal. 6:7 nlt) We are to be obedient to God in all we do as the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. If we obey God’s commands, we will witness His overlapping provisions in every season of our lives.