Once there was a church which decided that the church was not called to political involvement. Rather, they were called to preach the Word, and administer the sacraments. This pleased the whole congregation greatly and they gave themselves over to worship, and to the reformation of worship according to Scripture. But then a curious thing …
Eating the Cross
The cross of Jesus Christ attracts those chosen by God, and that same cross repels those who are perishing. The words of life are delicious to those who are being saved, and they are repulsive to those who rest in their own wisdom. In His discussion of His body and blood, the Lord Jesus scatters …
A Proud Stomach
Jesus teaches that all men whom the Father gives to Him will in fact come. He also says that no one can come on his own authority, at his own initiative. This meal is an “invitation only” event. At the same time, the whole world is invited — Jesus Christ is the bread of God …
From Now to the End of the World
God, Our Heavenly Father, We glorify Your name over every other name we know, and we ask for Your presence and blessing as we feast before You. You are the God of all gods, and Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the Lord of the Sabbath, and He rules over this day for our …
The Food of the Gospel
Jesus commands us to labor for the food which endures more than just a short time — food which endures to everlasting life. He tells us also not to give ourselves in idolatrous labor for that food which necessarily perishes. Jesus says that the Son of man will give us the bread that does not …
Resurrection Power
Lord of the Sabbath, We praise Your name and thank You for the kindness You displayed in giving us this day in which to worship You and remember how Your Son and our Lord came back from death. We glorify Your wisdom and exult in the fact that through this resurrection power, declared from Lord’s …
Divided Loyalties
We know from the Word of God that the ways of the flesh and the ways of the Spirit cannot be reconciled. They are mortal enemies, and can be nothing but mortal enemies. As long as God is holy, and as long as sin is filthy, the two will be at odds, that is to …
Eat and Be Satisified
The Word of God promises that the suffering Servant will come to see of the travail of His soul, and He will be satisfied. We too often draw the wrong conclusions from the doctrines of depravity, or from our distress over the current conditions of the Church. We are fallen, and the Church is in …
Strange to Say
Once a certain group of young boys went out into the forest to play with matches. They had been warned against this, and all of them had been told at one time or another by their mothers how dangerous this was. But they were of that peculiar age which thinks that because they were mature …
Rain to the Earth
Father and God, we thank You for the food before us. We thank You for the hands that prepared it, and for those who will help in the service of cleaning up. You give rain to the earth, and you make our food grow from the soil. You have given the rain of the new …