Matthew 14 - January 14th, 2024

Good morning.

Welcome back to our bread devotionals.

This is day fourteen, and we're so glad that you are here this morning.

Trust that wherever you are at, you are ready to meet with the Lord.

And so to that end, we just encourage you to find a quiet space.

I know some of us may be driving on a commute or doing a workout or something of that nature, but really would encourage you to find some space today to get quiet to encounter the Lord.

Maybe have a pen or pencil handy with a journal or notepad and to be able to jot some things down and take some notes as you feel like the Lord is speaking to you.

And if you're new with us, just joining us for the first time, we are using the the acronym of bread for our time together.

And it simply stands for be, breathe, then read, then encounter, apply, and devote.

And so remember, as we come into the scriptures today, we aren't just trying to just read a passage and gain more information or uh just check something off of our box of to-do lists today, but we're we're wanting to have an encounter with a personal God who wants to meet with you.

And so as we get ready to do that, I just encourage you.

Just plant your feet firmly on the floor and get still before the Lord and get ready to encounter Him.

And we'll just simply start with that letter B this morning, and we'll we'll focus on our breathing as we center ourselves and get ready to hear from God.

So just breathe in and out.

Breathe in and out.

Just focus in your thoughts, your heart's affection on the Lord this morning.

Just slowing down this morning and forgetting about all the things that await you and the rest of your day, but just focusing your all your attention on the Lord this morning and inviting the Holy Spirit to come and begin to meet with you.

Maybe go ahead and take one more big deep breath in and exhale.

And as you do, just ask the Holy Spirit to come, begin to speak to you as we open God's word and continue to journey through the gospel of Matthew.

And so go ahead and grab your pen and pencil handy or your highlighter, whatever you need to just jot down or highlight, make notes the things that God is saying to you as we read.

So Matthew chapter 14.

Matthew 14 · chapter mention

When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, he said to his advisors, This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead.

That is why he can do such miracles.

For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias, the former wife of Herod's brother Philip.

John had been telling Herod, It is against God's law for you to marry her.

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot because of all the people believed John was a prophet.

But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias' daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, and so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted.

At her mother's urging, the girl said, I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray.

Then the king regretted what he had said, but because of the vow he had made in front of his guest, he issued the necessary orders.

And so John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl who took it to her mother.

Later, John's disciples came for his body and buried it.

Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.

As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone.

But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns.

And Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

That evening the disciples came to him and said, This is a remote place and it's already getting late.

Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.

But Jesus said, That isn't necessary.

You feed them.

But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish, they answered.

They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.

About five thousand men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children.

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake while he sent the people home.

After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

Night fell while he was there alone.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen and they were fighting heavy waves.

About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them walking on the water.

When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified.

In their fear they cried out, It's a ghost.

But Jesus spoke to them at once.

Don't be afraid, he said.

Take courage, I am here.

Then Peter called to him, Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you walking on the water.

Yes, come, Jesus said.

And so Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.

Save me, Lord, he shouted.

And Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.

You have so little faith, Jesus said.

Why did you doubt me?

And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped, and then the disciples worshiped him.

You really are the Son of God, they exclaimed.

After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Genesterad.

When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed.

They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.

This is the word of the Lord.

So now we'll move to the encounter portion of our morning where we simply take what we feel like God has brought to the forefront or highlighted for us, the thing that we have jotted down in our journal, that verse, and we meditate on it, and we consider what is it that God might be saying to us this morning.

And so maybe take a few moments just to meditate on that verse and consider what God is saying to you and write a short reflection on that this morning.

And so over the next few minutes, just begin to pray.

Have a conversation with the Holy Spirit asking for wisdom and direction on how you can apply this truth to your life today.

And we'll simply use this time to write out a simple prayer of devotion to the Lord in response to all that that he has spoken to you this morning and how he has met you.

And then just write that down and pray that back to him as closing out this time together, saying that we are going to devote all that we are in our day to him.

But we do want to just say thank you so much for joining us for day 14 of our bread devotionals.

We'll be back tomorrow as we continue to journey through the Gospel of Matthew together, but pray that the Holy Spirit goes with you, empowers you to live out all that he's calling you to do today.

Love you guys.