Read Matthew 14:13-21. Key Verse: ""They need not go away; you give them something to eat." (v. 16)
The Church is modeled on Jesus' life. Jesus prayed. Jesus taught. Jesus preached. Jesus healed the sick. Jesus performed miracles. Jesus fed the hungry. Though he study this miracle often, we tend to forget the basic point behind this wonder, Jesus fed the hungry. After a day of following Him, the people found themselves almost at the end of the day in a place far from food. The disciples, thinking like most people, said, "Lord, send these people away." They could have said, "Lord, this is a worship space and/or worship center - we don't feed the hungry!" And in a sense they did. But Jesus said to them, as Jesus says to us, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
Churches that respond with care to the needs of their neighbors are the ones who grow. Churches who provide opportunities outside the church walls are the ones who are blessed for being faithful. Churches who care only about themselves and their needs are not really churches, but clubs. Do we need another club? What we really need are churches that love and serve.
Pray that during our time together before, during, and after General Conference, will be a time of loving and serving. Pray that you might be among those that lead the charge to help our neighbors with love and compassion.
PRAYER: Loving God, You supply all things; let us as individuals and as members of worship communities, be a part of responding and loving our neighbors. May we never forget the example of the life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who modeled faithfulness and obedience. We pray in His name, amen.
