The devotion three weeks ago was titled "Strength for Today." It had to do with the Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread," and its Old Testament parallel of the manna in the wilderness. Here now is a little hymn to help teach the lesson. Remember that "omer," a Hebrew word used only in Exodus 16, is a measure of about two quarts - a day's portion.
Of manna in the morning dew
Take for the day, for each of you,
An omerful, as God has said.
"Give us this day our daily bread."
Today I strength apportion you;
Tomorrow, then, a portion new;
Tonight no worry on your beds.
"Give us this day our daily bread."
Trust in your Father's heav'nly care
And learn to live the perfect prayer
Taught by the one whose blood is shed.
"Give us this day our daily bread!"
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
John's Way
"The Gospel according to John" (title).
John is the Frank Sinatra of the Four Evangelists. He did it his way. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke resemble each other in certain fundamental ways, John stands apart. His Gospel reads a different way.
Perhaps the best example of this is the placement of Holy Communion. Matthew, Mark, and Luke locate the giving of this precious gift on Maundy Thursday, just before the death of Jesus. John is different. He appears to omit the body-and-blood details of the Last Supper. The truth, however, is that he covered them already in John 6:
"He that eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:54).
These words of Jesus are a golden commentary on Communion. John wants us to make that final connection and then to meditate on these words both in preparation for the Sacrament and afterward.
There is only one Gospel, but Four Evangelists. They give us the one Christ and faith but in different ways, especially John. Don't be afraid to share the truth in your own way. God is leading you.
John is the Frank Sinatra of the Four Evangelists. He did it his way. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke resemble each other in certain fundamental ways, John stands apart. His Gospel reads a different way.
Perhaps the best example of this is the placement of Holy Communion. Matthew, Mark, and Luke locate the giving of this precious gift on Maundy Thursday, just before the death of Jesus. John is different. He appears to omit the body-and-blood details of the Last Supper. The truth, however, is that he covered them already in John 6:
"He that eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:54).
These words of Jesus are a golden commentary on Communion. John wants us to make that final connection and then to meditate on these words both in preparation for the Sacrament and afterward.
There is only one Gospel, but Four Evangelists. They give us the one Christ and faith but in different ways, especially John. Don't be afraid to share the truth in your own way. God is leading you.
Monday, August 13, 2012
A Misunderstood Word
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord" (Eph. 5:22).
The misunderstood word is "submit." Such a beautiful word, yet a beauty undiscovered. To help matters, consider what the groom is asked at a Lutheran wedding (and I'm sure others):
"Will you nourish and cherish her as Christ loved His body, the Church, giving Himself up for her?"
I will.
Then the bride is asked:
"Will you submit to him as the Church submits to Christ?"
I will.
Now at least in my experience as a pastor, no one has ever objected to or even questioned what is asked of the groom, despite the fact he is called on to give up his life! Makes me wonder if we're really hearing that question. No, what meets with resistance sometimes is the use of the word "submit" in the question to the bride.
The real problem is that we're not putting the two pieces together. They are interlocking questions. And more romantic terms could not be found!
What the bride is really submitting to, deepest down, is the groom's love, care, and willingness to give up his life for her. He is making a very strong statement. And with the word "submit," she is making a correspondingly strong reply. She is saying, "I hear you, and the answer is, 'Yes, I will be loved by you!'"
"Submit" means to "set under." But look at how it works. The wife sets herself under her husband who sets her life above his. He is her "head" (Eph. 5:23), but as such he puts her needs ahead of his.
Submitting to your husband should be like flying First Class and having to submit to the treatment.
But the best analogy is this: Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her on the cross. He is risen! And He lives to lead husbands in the way of loving their wives. As the Church submits to Christ's love and loves Him greatly in response, so too the wife who is loved by her husband!
Let us hear the words of marriage less legalistically and more, much more, romantically! They are not behind but ahead of the times.
The misunderstood word is "submit." Such a beautiful word, yet a beauty undiscovered. To help matters, consider what the groom is asked at a Lutheran wedding (and I'm sure others):
"Will you nourish and cherish her as Christ loved His body, the Church, giving Himself up for her?"
I will.
Then the bride is asked:
"Will you submit to him as the Church submits to Christ?"
I will.
Now at least in my experience as a pastor, no one has ever objected to or even questioned what is asked of the groom, despite the fact he is called on to give up his life! Makes me wonder if we're really hearing that question. No, what meets with resistance sometimes is the use of the word "submit" in the question to the bride.
The real problem is that we're not putting the two pieces together. They are interlocking questions. And more romantic terms could not be found!
What the bride is really submitting to, deepest down, is the groom's love, care, and willingness to give up his life for her. He is making a very strong statement. And with the word "submit," she is making a correspondingly strong reply. She is saying, "I hear you, and the answer is, 'Yes, I will be loved by you!'"
"Submit" means to "set under." But look at how it works. The wife sets herself under her husband who sets her life above his. He is her "head" (Eph. 5:23), but as such he puts her needs ahead of his.
Submitting to your husband should be like flying First Class and having to submit to the treatment.
But the best analogy is this: Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her on the cross. He is risen! And He lives to lead husbands in the way of loving their wives. As the Church submits to Christ's love and loves Him greatly in response, so too the wife who is loved by her husband!
Let us hear the words of marriage less legalistically and more, much more, romantically! They are not behind but ahead of the times.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Strength for Today
"Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11).
God gives us what we need one day at a time. He is determined to teach us trust. He calls us to trust that He will provide again tomorrow as He did today.
In the Old Testament He instructed the Israelites to gather just enough manna for the day. He sent it again the next morning. In the New Testament, in which we live, He teaches us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." In other words, just enough strength for today. He will supply it again tomorrow.
All of this leads to two definitions:
Anxiety = looking at tomorrow's challenges without tomorrow's strength.
Trust = knowing that tomorrow's strength will be a match for tomorrow's challenges.
You are not yet in possession of tomorrow's strength. It will be yours tomorrow morning, but not before. You are given strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow, and the most blessed of all things: trust in your heavenly Father.
God gives us what we need one day at a time. He is determined to teach us trust. He calls us to trust that He will provide again tomorrow as He did today.
In the Old Testament He instructed the Israelites to gather just enough manna for the day. He sent it again the next morning. In the New Testament, in which we live, He teaches us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." In other words, just enough strength for today. He will supply it again tomorrow.
All of this leads to two definitions:
Anxiety = looking at tomorrow's challenges without tomorrow's strength.
Trust = knowing that tomorrow's strength will be a match for tomorrow's challenges.
You are not yet in possession of tomorrow's strength. It will be yours tomorrow morning, but not before. You are given strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow, and the most blessed of all things: trust in your heavenly Father.
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