Tag: bread
A prophetic proclamation!
Scripture reading for July 21: 1 Corinthians 11
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
One of the issues in the church at Corinth was in their conduct of Holy Communion. This meal given to the church by Jesus Christ was causing divisions. Some were eating and not considerate of others that came late. Others were getting drunk. The rich and poor were in conflict and some were humiliating and despising one another. This was not Christ Jesus’ intent or instructions.
Paul explained what he understood from the Lord Jesus concerning the elements of Holy Communion. Jesus took the bread and gave thanks. He broke it and gave it to the disciples declaring, “This is My body which is for you.” As they partook of the bread, they were to remember Jesus and the giving of His body for their sins and sicknesses. Jesus willingly was made sin on our behalf. Thankfulness was the simple response to this amazing show of love. When Jesus took the cup, He proclaimed, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood.” As they partook, they were to remember His blood shed for the payment for sin and give thanks. Paul explained that this eating of the bread and drinking of the cup was a proclamation of Christ’s death until He came again. This was a prophetic act remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection and return again for His people and drinking the cup in the newness of the kingdom. This meal was intended to unite believers (the Bride of Christ) around the death, resurrection and return of Jesus Christ the heavenly Bridegroom.
How have you understood the sacrament of Holy Communion? Have you ever not taken Communion because of your own heart being not right with a brother or sister or spouse? Will you be more aware of the coming of Jesus next time you receive Communion?
Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for this Holy meal designed by You to help me remember Jesus Christ and His work on my behalf. Forgive me when I have partaken of this sacrament with a wrong heart towards another person or You. Remind me each time of the prophetic proclamation of Jesus’ soon return. Amen.
God’s ‘Mystery’ revealed!
Scripture reading for June 9th: Ephesians 3, Psalm 115, Proverbs 22
Ephesians 3:4-9 “When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. Of this Gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, Who created all things.”
Paul was given grace and stewardship of a once-hidden mystery, now revealed in Jesus Christ. This mystery was that God’s plan of salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ was to make adoption into God’s forever family available to both Jew and Gentile alike! The ‘unsearchable riches’ of Christ Jesus is forgiveness of sins and the Father’s Gift of the Holy Spirit living in all who repent and believe. Social status, male or female, Jew or Gentile made no difference to God, Who alone created all things and gives grace to those who humbly receive it. God wants all those who receive His Gift and grace to share it as a man shares bread with the hungry! Blessings flow to those who faithfully share and bring increase!
Psalm 115:13-15 “. .He will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great. May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the ‘unsearchable riches of Your Son! Thank You for the light of the Gospel and the Gift of the Holy Spirit revealing the path of adoption and new birth. Thank You for revealing the mystery of Your Gospel to both Jew and Gentile! Give me a ‘bountiful’ eye to share this ‘Bread’ with the hungry and may all my children and offspring be blessed to receive and increase!
Proverbs 22:9 “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.”
Real Food for the hungry!
Scripture reading for August 5th: Amos 7-9, Matthew 15
Key Scriptures: Matthew 15:32-37 “Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to Him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks He broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. . . .”
Jesus had compassion on the crowds of people that had followed Him and were with Him in the wilderness to hear God’s Word. He was concerned for their welfare and asked the disciples to feed them physically as He had given them a spiritual feast of God’s Word. There were few resources, but Jesus took what they had and blessed it, giving thanks and breaking it to give to the disciples. They, in turn, broke it again and gave it to the people! The bread and fish multiplied in their hands and all needs were met! They even had left-overs!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your great compassion and desire to empower Your disciples by Your Word. Help me to obey You and feed the people real ‘bread’, the Word of God!
Amos 8:11 “”Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land–not a famine for bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the Lord.””
Be encouraged through broken “Bread”!
Scripture reading for May 20th: 2nd Samuel 11-12, 1st Chronicles 20, Psalm 51, 32, Acts 27
Key Scriptures: Acts 27:34-38 “”Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.”
While on his journey to Rome, the ship’s captain that Paul had warned not to proceed had gone ahead anyway. A great storm arose at sea and all on board despaired of life. Paul was encouraged in a vision that none would be lost except the ship and that he would travel to Rome to testify there. Paul shared his vision with the crew and those aboard the ship and encouraged them to eat something. He took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and ate! This was a type of Holy Communion, a remembering of Jesus’ death and indwelling life!
Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I trust in Your broken Body and shed Blood for cleansing, healing, forgiveness and encouragement. Open doors today of encouragement and hope, where I can break the Bread of Life through sharing Jesus Christ and His mercy for those who are fearful in the midst of a storm.
2nd Samuel 12:13 “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”