God's word comes near in SERVING

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’  He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’  Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.  When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.

John 6:1-14

Our fourth day's theme verse is a longer one, but an iconic story, nonetheless. In the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, we learn how God’s word comes near when we share God’s story in love and service. Service is not merely an act of kindness but a tangible way in which God’s Word comes near to us. When we serve, we embody the teachings of Christ, making His presence known in both our lives and the lives of those we help.  When we serve others, we don’t just bring God's love to them—we also experience His presence in a deeper way. Acts of service shift our focus from ourselves to others, opening our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit. We see God’s image in those we serve, and in doing so, we draw closer to Him. As we seek to draw near to God, let us remember that His Word is made real in the act of service. When we serve, we experience the joy of selflessness and the fulfillment that comes from aligning our lives with God’s purpose. By loving and serving others, we become living testimonies of His grace, and in doing so, we find ourselves closer to His heart than ever before.