Words of Inspiration and Encouragement
4-28-2022
This Sunday is "Communion Sunday". Communion or the Lord's Supper is something that has been practiced at Berea since the very beginning. In fact it's been practiced by Christians since Jesus instituted it at the Last Supper. The sermon this Sunday will be focusing on what "Communion" is by going through the questions and answers given in the Explanation to Luther's Small Catechism.
When Jesus offered the disciples the cup he gave it to them saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:27-28).
This is my blood of the covenant. The old covenant made between God and the Israelites through Moses required regular blood sacrifices to be made year after year. But Jesus came to establish a "better covenant" (Hebrews 7:22). Jesus came and offered a sacrifice once and for all.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 - “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
This Sunday is "Communion Sunday". Communion or the Lord's Supper is something that has been practiced at Berea since the very beginning. In fact it's been practiced by Christians since Jesus instituted it at the Last Supper. The sermon this Sunday will be focusing on what "Communion" is by going through the questions and answers given in the Explanation to Luther's Small Catechism.
When Jesus offered the disciples the cup he gave it to them saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:27-28).
This is my blood of the covenant. The old covenant made between God and the Israelites through Moses required regular blood sacrifices to be made year after year. But Jesus came to establish a "better covenant" (Hebrews 7:22). Jesus came and offered a sacrifice once and for all.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 - “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4-15-2022
We will be having a Maundy Thursday service tonight at 7PM. My kids wondered why do we have a Monday service when it's Thursday? I'm guessing that they aren't the only ones. Maundy is kind of a funny word and one that we don't use outside of this one day of the year. According to Mirriam-Webster it originally comes from Latin (via Old French and Middle English). The Latin word is mandatum - command or order.
After eating the Passover meal today (the Last Supper) Jesus tells his disciples in John 13:34 - "I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you will also love one another."
Love isn't an easy thing to show others. Gotquestions.com puts it this way in an article about John 13:34 - "They [the disciples] had not been easy to love at first. In fact, there was nothing at all lovable about them, such as Matthew the tax collector. But for three years Jesus had shown them that love is not dependent upon the worthiness of the one being loved. God's love embraces flaws, weaknesses, and outright unworthiness. Jesus demonstrates this unconditional love by washing His disciples' feet, even those of the one who would betray him."
"Love is not dependent upon the worthiness of the one being loved..."
Are we loving only those who are worthy? Those who are lovable? Or are we loving others as Christ has loved us?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
We will be having a Maundy Thursday service tonight at 7PM. My kids wondered why do we have a Monday service when it's Thursday? I'm guessing that they aren't the only ones. Maundy is kind of a funny word and one that we don't use outside of this one day of the year. According to Mirriam-Webster it originally comes from Latin (via Old French and Middle English). The Latin word is mandatum - command or order.
After eating the Passover meal today (the Last Supper) Jesus tells his disciples in John 13:34 - "I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you will also love one another."
Love isn't an easy thing to show others. Gotquestions.com puts it this way in an article about John 13:34 - "They [the disciples] had not been easy to love at first. In fact, there was nothing at all lovable about them, such as Matthew the tax collector. But for three years Jesus had shown them that love is not dependent upon the worthiness of the one being loved. God's love embraces flaws, weaknesses, and outright unworthiness. Jesus demonstrates this unconditional love by washing His disciples' feet, even those of the one who would betray him."
"Love is not dependent upon the worthiness of the one being loved..."
Are we loving only those who are worthy? Those who are lovable? Or are we loving others as Christ has loved us?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3-31-2022
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Out of sight out of mind. I've been in my new house for almost 4 months now, but I'm far from settled. I still haven't found things that I packed up back in December. There aren't as many boxes in the living room and dining room as there were 2 months ago or even a month ago. It doesn't mean that I've opened up those boxes and found a home for the things inside them, it means that I put those boxes down in the basement. That way they are easier to ignore.
Unfortunately sometimes I treat my relationship with God the same way as I treat those unopened boxes. I find ways to justify ignoring my time with God and I tell myself that I'll do it later. The Biblical solution for this is to fix your eyes on Jesus. Keep Him at the center.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Out of sight out of mind. I've been in my new house for almost 4 months now, but I'm far from settled. I still haven't found things that I packed up back in December. There aren't as many boxes in the living room and dining room as there were 2 months ago or even a month ago. It doesn't mean that I've opened up those boxes and found a home for the things inside them, it means that I put those boxes down in the basement. That way they are easier to ignore.
Unfortunately sometimes I treat my relationship with God the same way as I treat those unopened boxes. I find ways to justify ignoring my time with God and I tell myself that I'll do it later. The Biblical solution for this is to fix your eyes on Jesus. Keep Him at the center.
______________________________________________________________________________________
3-4-2022
This morning I had some leftovers from the freezer. Tonight I plan on making chicken and rice for supper. Tomorrow we've been invited to someone's house for a meal where we've been instructed to eat a small breakfast because lunch will be "like Thanksgiving". Every day I eat 2 or more times a day. Part of the reason that I eat is for pleasure, but I also eat for survival. If I miss a meal or two (or even 4-5) I won't suffer too much. I'll be hungry, but no damage is done as long as I eat again. Scientists estimate that the average person has enough calories stored to survive between 1 and 3 months, but to be healthy we need to eat regularly. We know that we have to eat. There are times when we tell our children or family members that they need to eat something, but the overwhelming majority of people don't need to be reminded to eat - if they are hungry enough they will eat.
Colossians 2:6-7 - So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
I tend to do a lot better taking care of my physical health than I do my spiritual health. I regularly eat physical food, but I often neglect feeding my soul. Just as we need physical food to live we also need spiritual food regularly. In this passage in Colossians we are admonished to continue to live in Christ. He is the source of our strength, life, and hope. Just as we eat every day to remain healthy and strong we too need to spend time with God every day to remain spiritually healthy and strong.
May God give you a hunger and desire to regularly spend time with Him in prayer and reading His Word.
______________________________________________________________________________________
This morning I had some leftovers from the freezer. Tonight I plan on making chicken and rice for supper. Tomorrow we've been invited to someone's house for a meal where we've been instructed to eat a small breakfast because lunch will be "like Thanksgiving". Every day I eat 2 or more times a day. Part of the reason that I eat is for pleasure, but I also eat for survival. If I miss a meal or two (or even 4-5) I won't suffer too much. I'll be hungry, but no damage is done as long as I eat again. Scientists estimate that the average person has enough calories stored to survive between 1 and 3 months, but to be healthy we need to eat regularly. We know that we have to eat. There are times when we tell our children or family members that they need to eat something, but the overwhelming majority of people don't need to be reminded to eat - if they are hungry enough they will eat.
Colossians 2:6-7 - So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
I tend to do a lot better taking care of my physical health than I do my spiritual health. I regularly eat physical food, but I often neglect feeding my soul. Just as we need physical food to live we also need spiritual food regularly. In this passage in Colossians we are admonished to continue to live in Christ. He is the source of our strength, life, and hope. Just as we eat every day to remain healthy and strong we too need to spend time with God every day to remain spiritually healthy and strong.
May God give you a hunger and desire to regularly spend time with Him in prayer and reading His Word.
______________________________________________________________________________________
2-11-2022
Too often I like to compartmentalize my life and live like everything is separate. I have my faith (belief/trust in God), then I have my family life, I have my hobbies, I have the daily life of shopping and chores, etc. It can be easy to think that my stop at the gas station this morning had nothing to do with my faith. After all that was just a quick trip in and out. But is that truly the case?
Romans 10:9 - if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
So what does it mean to say that Jesus is Lord? A "lord" is someone who has power and authority over others. If we confess that Jesus is Lord it doesn't mean that Jesus is only Lord when we are conscious of it, when we are at church, when we are reading the Bible...If Jesus is your Lord then He is Lord at all times. This means that everything we do should be affected by our relationship with Jesus.
Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
In all my interactions I want to glorify and honor God. So whether you are shopping, working, studying, playing, relaxing, etc. remember that Jesus is Lord. His love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness shapes our entire lives.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Too often I like to compartmentalize my life and live like everything is separate. I have my faith (belief/trust in God), then I have my family life, I have my hobbies, I have the daily life of shopping and chores, etc. It can be easy to think that my stop at the gas station this morning had nothing to do with my faith. After all that was just a quick trip in and out. But is that truly the case?
Romans 10:9 - if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
So what does it mean to say that Jesus is Lord? A "lord" is someone who has power and authority over others. If we confess that Jesus is Lord it doesn't mean that Jesus is only Lord when we are conscious of it, when we are at church, when we are reading the Bible...If Jesus is your Lord then He is Lord at all times. This means that everything we do should be affected by our relationship with Jesus.
Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
In all my interactions I want to glorify and honor God. So whether you are shopping, working, studying, playing, relaxing, etc. remember that Jesus is Lord. His love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness shapes our entire lives.
______________________________________________________________________________________
2-4-2022
There can be times when I'm not sure how to pray for a fellow believer (usually this happens when I don't know them well or everything is going well). But today in my devotion time I came across some verse that help me know how to pray for believers and it is also a prayer that I would like you to pray for me.
Ephesians 6:18-20 (NLT)
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God's ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
I will be praying for you, especially that God would give you the right words to boldly proclaim the Good News. Pray the same for me.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
There can be times when I'm not sure how to pray for a fellow believer (usually this happens when I don't know them well or everything is going well). But today in my devotion time I came across some verse that help me know how to pray for believers and it is also a prayer that I would like you to pray for me.
Ephesians 6:18-20 (NLT)
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God's ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
I will be praying for you, especially that God would give you the right words to boldly proclaim the Good News. Pray the same for me.
_______________________________________________________________________________________