Tag: gave thanks
Encouragement through breaking bread!
Scripture reading for June 10th: Acts 27
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Acts 27:34-37 “”Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” After he had said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat it. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board.”
Paul was a prisoner on a ship headed for Rome in the storm season of approaching winter. He had given the ship’s captain some advice–a word of knowledge about the fate of the journey. The advice was not taken and now trouble had come upon the ship and they had been storm-tossed for 14 days. Paul again gave insight by the Spirit about how to survive. They must all stay with the ship and they also must take some food. Paul demonstrated his faith and courage by taking bread, giving thanks, breaking it, and eating! This encouraged all on board and they all safely survived the breaking up of the ship!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers take notice the pattern of Paul: taking, giving thanks, breaking, and eating! This was the pattern of Jesus at the Last Supper! He did this in front of the whole company on the ship and they were encouraged! “He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. They asked, and he brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert.” (Psalm 105:39-41)
Recognizing the Body of Christ
Scripture reading for August 18th: 1st Corinthians 11:17-34
Paul dealt with the problem of divisions in the church concerning the ‘Lord’s Supper’, what we would call ‘Holy Communion’. In that day, this sacrament was usually a part of a meal called a ‘love feast’. The church came together to eat a meal and celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
Paul addressed their bad manners and lack of love for each other displayed during this meal. Some were coming early and eating all the food. Others were taking too much wine and getting drunk. (1st Corinthians 11:20-22) Paul warned them that they were despising God’s church and humiliating those who had nothing to eat. This caused strife and division during a meal that was to bring unity!
Paul explained the Lord’s Supper as he had received it. “The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (!st Corinthians 11:23-26) This sacrament was to help believers center their lives on the One who had given His life for them. The bread represented Christ’s broken body, offered as a sinless sacrifice. The cup represented the shed blood that sealed a new covenant of grace through faith with each person who would trust in Jesus. The cup also spoke of the second coming of Christ. When He returned, believers would receive a new body and partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven with Christ. (Revelation 19:7-9)
Paul encouraged each person to examine themselves before they partook of this precious meal. They should each judge themselves and repent of any sins or division. He even warned them that if they partook of the meal in an unworthy manner, the possibility of God’s judgment was there. Judas died from failure to partake in the right spirit! (1st Corinthians 11:29-31) God’s desire was for all to be blessed! Take a minute to examine your heart today! Repent of any known sin and honor Christ’s gift of grace!
Compassion and prayer!
Scripture reading for January 19th: Genesis 50, Exodus 1-2, Matthew 15
Key Scriptures: Matthew 15:32-35 “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 sen them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. And the disciples said, “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?: The 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…”
We notice the compassion that motivated Jesus to take faith action. He saw the hungry crowds and knew they had need. He found all available resources and organized the crowd. He mobilized the disciples to take the bread He had blessed and broken. As they broke it to the crowd, a miracle happened and all were fed! Compassion motivated Pharaoh’s daughter as well!
Exodus 2:5-6, 10 “Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children. . . .”When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.””
Prayer: Lord, fill my heart with Your compassion for the needy, hurting and lost! Let me be flooded with Your love! In Jesus’ Name.