Being the One: Embracing Biblical Justice Together

Devotional

Day 1: Compassion in the Midst of Our Own Pain

Even when facing personal grief or exhaustion, Jesus saw the needs of others and responded with deep compassion, healing and caring for those who sought Him. In the midst of our own struggles, we are invited to look beyond ourselves and allow God to restore us so that we can meet the needs of those around us, just as Jesus did when He mourned the loss of John the Baptist yet still cared for the crowds. When our lives are centered on Christ and we find daily rhythms of rest and restoration with God, He empowers us to extend compassion even when we feel empty. [12:49]

Matthew 14:13-14 (ESV)
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Reflection: When you are hurting or overwhelmed, who is someone around you whose needs you might be overlooking? Ask God to help you see them with His compassion today and take one small step to care for them.

Day 2: Inviting the Hungry In—Not Sending Them Away

Biblical justice is not about sending the hungry away or making their needs someone else’s problem; it’s about inviting them in, providing for them, and making them feel seen, valued, and welcomed. Jesus challenged His disciples to feed the crowd themselves, teaching that following Him means actively participating in meeting others’ needs, not just observing or offering practical excuses. We are called to move beyond logic and scarcity, trusting that God’s heart is to include and provide for the vulnerable through us. [16:54]

Matthew 14:15-16 (ESV)
Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”

Reflection: Who in your community or daily life might feel excluded or overlooked? How can you invite them in and meet a tangible need this week, even if it feels inconvenient?

Day 3: Trusting God’s Provision Over Our Own Resources

Jesus did not focus on the scarcity of resources but trusted in the Father’s provision, giving thanks for what was available and allowing God to multiply it. He invites us to bring what we have, no matter how small, and trust that God can do the miraculous through our obedience. God is not intimidated by the magnitude of our problems; He wants to work through us to meet the needs of others, multiplying provision as we participate in His work. [23:42]

Matthew 14:17-21 (ESV)
They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Reflection: What is one area where you feel you don’t have “enough” to help others? Bring it honestly to God in prayer and ask Him to show you how He can use what you have.

Day 4: Obedience Precedes the Miracle

God’s miracles often begin with simple obedience—bringing what we have and being willing to be used by Him, even when it feels uncomfortable or insufficient. Jesus multiplied the bread and fish through the disciples’ participation, showing that biblical justice is not about individual heroism but about communal action and trust in God’s power. When we step out in faith and obedience, we become part of God’s restoration in the world, experiencing His provision and seeing lives changed. [27:37]

James 2:15-17 (ESV)
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Reflection: What is one act of obedience you sense God prompting you to take this week, even if it feels small or risky? How can you take that step today?

Day 5: Justice Is a Community Calling

Living out biblical justice is not a solo endeavor; it is a communal calling where the body of Christ works together to meet needs, invite others in, and reflect God’s love. We are called to move beyond a scarcity mindset and individualism, choosing instead to participate together in God’s restoration by supporting, serving, and stewarding our resources for the good of others. As we do this, we declare that every person matters and is welcome, and we become the hands and feet of Jesus in our world. [31:19]

Romans 12:4-5, 13 (ESV)
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another… Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Reflection: How can you join with others in your church or community this week to serve those in need? Consider reaching out to a local ministry or food pantry and inviting someone to serve alongside you.

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on what it truly means to be “the one” God uses—how each of us is called to reflect the light of Jesus by living out a biblical justice ethic. When the church is unified, the world sees Jesus more clearly, and that unity is expressed not just in belief, but in action—especially in how we care for the vulnerable and the hungry. Biblical justice, rooted in the Hebrew concepts of tzedakah (right relationships) and mishpat (actionable compassion), is not about sending the hungry away, but about inviting them in, providing for both their physical and spiritual needs.

Looking at the story in Matthew 14, we see Jesus, even in his own grief, moved by compassion for the crowds. He doesn’t turn them away, but heals and feeds them. The disciples, seeing the practical impossibility of feeding thousands with just five loaves and two fish, are challenged by Jesus: “You give them something to eat.” This is a radical invitation—not just to charity, but to inclusion, to being part of God’s miraculous provision. Jesus doesn’t ask for the meal to be multiplied; he simply gives thanks, trusting the Father’s provision, and then involves the disciples in distributing the food. The miracle happens through their participation.

This story challenges us to move beyond a scarcity mindset and practical limitations. We often default to assessing our resources—time, money, energy—rather than remembering God’s power and faithfulness. But God is not intimidated by the magnitude of our problems. He wants to work through us, using what we have, however small, to meet the needs of others. Biblical justice is not about individual heroism, but about communal participation in God’s restoration. It’s a “we” thing, not a “me” thing.

Practically, this means we don’t send the hungry away—we invite them in. Locally, we can partner with organizations like Feeding Hands Food Pantry, supporting them with donations, supplies, and our time. But wherever we are, the call is the same: to step out in obedience, to be willing to be used by God, and to trust that as we do, he will multiply our efforts and reveal his love to those in need. Biblical justice begins with obedience, not abundance, and God’s miracles often come through our willingness to act.

Key Takeaways

1. Compassion in the Midst of Pain Jesus models a life so centered on the Father that even in moments of deep personal grief, he is able to see and respond to the needs of others. This challenges us to cultivate daily rhythms of rest and restoration with God, so that we can be present and compassionate even when we feel empty ourselves. True Christlikeness is revealed not just in our mountaintop moments, but in our willingness to serve from our places of brokenness. [12:49]
2. The Invitation to Participate in God’s Miracles When Jesus tells the disciples, “You give them something to eat,” he is inviting them—and us—into the miracle. God often chooses to work through our obedience, not our abundance. The miracle of provision happens as we step out in faith, offering what little we have, and trusting God to multiply it for the sake of others. [16:54]
3. Moving Beyond Scarcity to Trust Our default is to focus on what we lack—time, resources, energy—and to let that limit our willingness to serve. But God is not limited by our scarcity; he is looking for our obedience and trust. When we bring what we have, however small, God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine, using ordinary people to enact extraordinary justice. [22:35]
4. Justice as Communal Participation, Not Individual Heroism Biblical justice is not about one person swooping in to save the day; it’s about the body of Christ working together, each bringing their part, to reveal God’s love and provision. The miracle of the loaves and fishes happened through the disciples’ participation, not just Jesus’ power. God’s restoration is a “we” thing, and we are called to be active participants in his work of justice and mercy. [27:37]
5. Practical Obedience Opens the Door to Miracles Living out a justice ethic starts with simple, practical obedience—showing up, bringing what we have, and inviting others in. Whether it’s supporting a local food pantry, serving our neighbors, or simply being willing to act, God multiplies our efforts when we step out in faith. The invitation is to be the one who says “yes” to God’s call, trusting that as we do, he will use us to meet both physical and spiritual needs. [31:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Summer of One: The Call to Be the One
[03:05] - Unity Reveals Jesus to the World
[05:12] - Biblical Justice: Tzedakah and Mishpat
[07:40] - Feeding the Hungry as Justice
[09:55] - Jesus’ Compassion in Grief
[12:49] - Serving Others from Our Brokenness
[15:30] - The Disciples’ Practical Concerns
[16:54] - “You Give Them Something to Eat”
[19:20] - Scarcity Mindset vs. God’s Provision
[22:35] - Trusting God with What We Have
[23:42] - The Miracle of Multiplication
[27:37] - Participating in God’s Miracles
[31:19] - Practical Ways to Feed the Hungry
[37:03] - Serving with Feeding Hands
[38:47] - Prayer and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 14:13-21 (ESV) — Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Observation Questions

What was Jesus’ emotional state at the beginning of this story, and how did he respond to the crowds who followed him? ([12:49])
What did the disciples suggest as a solution to the problem of the hungry crowd, and how did Jesus respond to their suggestion? ([16:54])
What did Jesus do with the five loaves and two fish before distributing them to the people? ([23:42])
Who actually distributed the food to the crowd, and what was the result? ([23:42])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to involve the disciples in feeding the crowd instead of doing it all himself? What might he have been teaching them? ([27:37])
The disciples focused on what they lacked (food, resources). What does this reveal about their mindset, and how does Jesus challenge that way of thinking? ([22:35])
The sermon describes biblical justice as “inviting the hungry in” rather than sending them away. How does this story illustrate that kind of justice? ([16:54])
The miracle happened as the disciples participated. What does this suggest about how God works through ordinary people? ([27:37])

Application Questions

The sermon talked about Jesus showing compassion even while grieving. When have you felt empty or in pain, but still sensed God calling you to care for someone else? What helped you respond (or what held you back)? ([12:49])
Jesus told the disciples, “You give them something to eat.” Is there a situation in your life right now where you feel God nudging you to step out and help, even if you feel unqualified or under-resourced? What would it look like to say “yes” to that invitation? ([16:54])
The disciples saw only their lack, but Jesus saw God’s abundance. Where do you tend to focus on scarcity in your life—time, money, energy, or something else? How might God be inviting you to trust him with what you have, however small? ([22:35])
The sermon emphasized that biblical justice is a “we” thing, not a “me” thing. How can our small group (or church) work together to meet needs in our community, rather than trying to do it alone? ([27:37])
The Feeding Hands Food Pantry was given as a practical example. What is one concrete step you could take this week to support a local ministry, food pantry, or neighbor in need? (Bring supplies, volunteer, donate, etc.) ([31:19])
Sometimes we wait for “abundance” before we act, but the sermon said miracles often start with simple obedience. What is one small act of obedience you could take this week to serve someone else, even if it feels insignificant? ([31:19])
The story ends with everyone being satisfied and leftovers remaining. How have you seen God multiply your efforts or resources when you stepped out in faith to help someone? ([23:42])

Sermon Clips

Biblical justice doesn’t just send the hungry away—it invites them in. Biblical justice says, “Hey, come and stay. I’m going to provide you with food that nourishes your body, even as I provide you food that nourishes your soul.” Feeding people is more than a charitable act; it’s a radical move of inclusion.

Jesus would often meet physical needs as he met spiritual needs. Oftentimes, he would do it beforehand. He met their physical needs before he sent them out to do something amazing.

What if our whole lives were so centered on Jesus that even in the midst of traumatic pain, as we find daily rhythms of rest and restoration with God, he could restore us continually so that we could actually meet others’ needs?

When you see that kind of compassion from one person towards another, it’s inspiring—it means something to you. The disciples were inspired by Jesus’ miraculous compassion, and as his disciples, they were just trying to help their teacher out.

We get hesitant because this is what we do—we get highly practical when we’re asked to do things like this. We say, “We don’t have enough food to feed people. We barely have enough for ourselves. We don’t have enough to drink, money, time, or energy.” We come up with all these reasons why we don’t invite them in, but the truth is, we often look for the practical solution when what we actually need is a miracle.

God is faithful. They knew the story of Moses and how he needed a sign to take with him. God asked Moses, “What’s already in your hand?” He had a wooden rod that God used to part the seas. God did the miracle, but he used Moses as the vessel of that miracle.

Do we believe enough in miracles that we believe God could use us to deliver it? Do we believe enough in miracles that we actually believe God would do it through us? Where is our level of belief? Do we let our need for control and our practical logic get in the way of God using us to move the very mountains that are in front of us?

God is not intimidated by the magnitude of our problems. God doesn’t look at any situation we find ourselves in and say, “Yeah, you know what? That is a little bit much for me.” Jesus recognizes the size of the need, but also knows the greatness of God.

All Jesus has to do is sit in the intimacy of the presence of the Father. He just sits there and simply gives thanks and trusts that God will do the rest. He was so in tune with God’s Spirit that he understood God already knows what we need and wants to act on our behalf, but also wants to act through us to do it.

He wants us to be his hands and feet. He wants us to be involved. He wants to work through us to reach the other, to feed the hungry person, to show his power, love, compassion, and provision. He uses ordinary people to enact extraordinary justice.

Jesus could have done it all by himself—he’s Jesus, he’s God. But he wants to use us, empower us, and work through us. He wants us to be willing to be used by him, to be willing to be stretched and to put our faith in him on the line.

The more we sit in his presence, the more we understand his calling on us to invite them in and trust in his provision. The more time we spend with him, the more we understand the calling he’s placed on us to invite others in, but also to trust in his provision as we do that.

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