Category: Devotion of the Day

They Need Not Depart

They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
Matthew 14:16

The disciples thought it was time to send the multitude away to buy food. But is is never necessary to go away from Jesus for anything. All we need is in Him. Men are going in all directions foraging for food, but He is the Bread of Life. It is not necessary to supplement your diet with anything from the fleshpots of Egypt. All the vitamins and calories your soul requires are in Christ. He is Alpha and Omega – and all the letters between!

But He also said, “Give ye them to eat.” We are His agents, His representatives today, and we need never send men away elsewhere from our sufficient Saviour.

But how can we give them to eat? The disciples saw only five loaves and two fishes. The Lord said, “Bring them hither to me.” Bring what you have, all you have, and He will multiply it to meet the demand.

What a joy to represent a Lord who never meets an emergency that makes it necessary to dismiss the crowd! They need never depart – for to whom shall they go?

Pattern for Revival

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners hall be converted unto thee.
Psalm 51:12-13

Here in Old Testament language the difference between revival and evangelism, so often confused today. David is saying, “Make me right and then I will go after somebody else!” Too much church work is being done by people who are not right with God and each other, who know neither the joy of salvation nor a willing spirit.

Conviction of sin, confession of sin, cleansing, and a right spirit – all this is revival. Evangelism, soul-winning, personal work, the conversion of sinners – all this flows from revival.

David needed a Nathan, and the church needs a prophet to tell his story and make the application, “Thou art the man.” That is not easy – especially if “the man” is sitting right in front of you! There are guilty Davids aplenty but few faithful Nathans.