Who Started Communion and Sunday Worship?

COMMUNION.

The Passover meal had been celebrated from the time of Israel’s EXODUS out of Egypt. Jesus and His disciples celebrated Passover just before His betrayal (Luke 22:7-23). It was at this meal (known also as The Last Supper) that Jesus created a new celebration with only two elements.

First, He took the Passover non-yeast, cracker-like bread, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is My body broken for you.” He knew He would suffer terrible abuse before He was even crucified (Matthew 27:24-26; 27:27-31).

Next, he took the cup and said, “This is my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28; John 3:16).

But, get this! He also said, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29; Paul’s follow-up, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

His disciples received confirmation of this message after the Resurrection, as Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:10-11). I’m looking forward to His return, are you?

SUNDAY WORSHIP

The Old Testament commanded a holy Sabbath, every seven days (Exodus 20:8-11). Sunday Worship requires a three-day timeline to explain:

1.       Friday afternoon, Jesus died on a Roman cross (Matthew 27:45—46). As Evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea (a rich man and secret follower of Jesus) asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Nicodemus (another secret follower) brought burial spices, and together they prepared Jesus’ body and laid it in Joseph’s tomb (John 19:38-42).    

 2.       Saturday was the Jewish Sabbath.

 3.       Sunday, at dawn on the first day of the week, certain women went to the tomb where they were shocked! The tomb was open, and they saw an angel who said, “He is not here. He is risen . . . go quickly, tell His disciples . . . He is going ahead of you to Galilee” (Matthew 28:1-7).

Early Christians then started worshiping on the first day of the week, calling it “The Lord’s Day.” First-day worship was also mentioned in Paul’s day (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4).

 I’m thankful to celebrate these two ancient Christian traditions in my spiritual life. How about you?

Pixabay:

The Wordless Book

When I’m running errands, I often thank God for colors like white clouds, blue sky, green trees in a variety of shades, and houses, too.

My mind often turns to the Wordless Book with its colorful message.

I learned it in a neighborhood Bible club, but its truth is for people of all ages, an illustration of John 3:16:  For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God loved the world! My husband and I once worked at a very large church that I called “world-class.” On the front of our church, up high, were large white letters that read like the old King James: “Whosoever Will May Come.” And come they did!

We had a diverse range of people groups, economic and educational levels, and all ages, from babies to senior citizens. It was an exciting place to be!

THE WORDLESS BOOK IS SIMPLE 

Four Colors - - - Four Truths

PAGE ONE:  Sin has darkened our hearts; the darkest primary color is BLACK.

Adam and Eve weren’t the only ones who chose to disobey God. Isaiah 53:6 says, “We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way.”

PAGE TWO:  Jesus shed his blood on the cross as a sacrifice to remove sin; that’s RED.

Because of that, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  

PAGE THREE: Christ’s blood removes our sin; we are pure, WHITE as snow.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they will become like wool” (Isaiah1:18).  

PAGE FOUR: Eternal life in heaven includes streets of GOLD.

Revelation 21:21 says, “The main street of the city was pure gold as clear as glass.” Won’t that be something to see!

It’s a wonderful new day when our sins are washed away.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. 

Behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Believe it! The message of The Wordless Book is for each of us---fresh hope and a fresh start!

Pixabay: watercolor box; stux.

The Choice is Yours

Have you ever thanked God for the ability to think and make choices? Many daily choices seem routine. But there was a time we had thought about them and made a choice.

From the beginning, God gave humans a choice, and from Genesis to Revelation, His will is made clear. However, the choice is ours: (1) Will we believe His word, and (2) will we obey His word?  

Psalm Chapter One is a favorite. Six powerful little verses contrast the righteous with the wicked. People in our day tend to downplay the meaning of wicked, but God’s word is eternal.

What do the righteous DO? They delight in the law of the Lord and choose to keep it in mind day and night. The Psalm calls this meditation.

What do the righteous NOT DO? By focusing on God’s word, they don’t: (1) walk in wicked or ungodly counsel, (2) follow the way of sinners, nor (3) sit with mockers.

In our modern day, we need to apply this to our entertainment and social media choices. But mockery doesn’t have to be outright ridicule of God. We can also mock by simply brushing Him off with our choices and actions as if He doesn’t matter.

How’s this for contrast? Psalm One says the righteous are blessed, but not so the wicked. The righteous are rooted and bear fruit, but the wicked are blown away like chaff (Psalm 1: 1-3, 4-5).  

Have you heard of the broad way and the narrow way? Jesus said there’s a broad way that leads to destruction. It’s full of people who want big and easy.

On the other hand, there’s a narrow gate and a narrow way that leads to life, but compared to the broad way, only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

There’s an old joke that says, ‘When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” But the reality is that choices matter.

The choice is yours. God’s way or your way? The broad way or the narrow way?

It takes more effort to stay on a narrow path, but with eternal values in view, it’s worth the effort!

Pixabay: Decision, Choice, Path; Waldryana.

  

You Can Hold A Miracle

Some of you do this every day. I started doing it at about age ten, following a summer Vacation Bible School (VBS) whose theme was God’s Word, A Treasure.

I googled “amazing facts about the Bible,” and here’s what I read: (1) 66 distinct books, (2) 40 authors, (3) written across 1500 years, (4) three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, (5) still the world’s best-seller, and (6) the first book off Gutenberg’s printing press.

Church history shows three major councils, or meetings of church leaders, whose purpose was to determine which early writings were inspired. I first heard of this in a Christian University.

In more modern times, the Dead Sea Scrolls, mostly fragments, found between 1947 and 1956, have verified scripture.

The Bible is a library of books. Old Testament Books are listed on some charts as The Law, History, Wisdom, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets. New Testament books include The Gospels, Paul’s Letters to the Churches, Paul’s Letters to Friends, and General Letters.

I’m always interested in Jesus’ use of scripture. At the beginning of His ministry, after He was baptized in the Jordan, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).

Three times the devil tempted Him, and three times He quoted scriptures from Deuteronomy to refute the temptation. We have both the Old and New Testaments, and can quote from them when needed, if we have them in our hearts as Jesus did.

How can we learn the Bible? It requires more than Sunday services, small group studies, or TV and social media. We must study God’s word daily.

I enjoy my *Life Application Study Bible, NIV (LASB, New International Version). I have other versions, but I ordered this as a hardcover, large-print edition, easy to read.

It has footnotes, book introductions, charts, maps, a concordance, and more. It’s heavy, but I consider it worth its weight in gold.

What’s so important about the Bible?

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Thank God for His gift to us, a miracle we can hold in our hands and hide in our hearts.                       

*You can find Life Application Study Bibles (LASB) wherever books are sold; however, I usually check christianbooks.com (the largest online Christian bookseller). The Life Application Study Bible, NIV (LASB, New International Version) is published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, and Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, IL.

Pixabay: Read, Book, Blank Book; Tilixia-Summer.

Wanted: Personal Peace

I need cataract surgery this year. I met the surgeon and his assistant, and I was told to call her with any questions.

After calling her two days in a row and leaving the required details, there was no reply. After my third try, I decided to let it go. I read their information packet, listed my questions, and made the required appointments with my primary care, EKG, and labs.

Friday night, I shared my anxiety with my local Goddaughter.  Even positive reports from those who had experienced it did nothing to calm my fears.

After we watched a DVD, I talked about surgery again. She said, “You’re worrying and not trusting God.” The next thing I knew, she was praying, asking God to calm my fears and give me peace.

God answered that prayer in three different ways:

(1)    Later that night, she sent a scripture. It was *Isaiah 26:3: You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in you.

(2)    The next morning, I opened my Bible, and a colorful scripture card fell face up. John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

 (3)    Sunday, I listened to a favorite TV Bible teacher. His text was Philippians 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing . . . present your requests to God. And the peace which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  

I received a call from the head of the surgery center a few days later. She was very pleasant and answered all my questions. I started to feel better about this up close and personal eye surgery! But God, in His love, had one more message of peace!

In a weekly study, the verse for the week was Psalm 56:3-4: When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God whose word I praise . . . I will not be afraid . . .    

I finally got the message! “Lord, I trust Your word, and I trust in You!” I don’t have surgery dates yet, but it doesn’t matter. I now have God's peace.

*All scriptures are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB, Copyright 2022 by Bible Hub, Used by Permission, All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Pixabay: Woman, Girl, Freedom Image; JillWellington.

Be Wise, Not Foolish

I don’t know anyone who wants to be considered a fool. Even the least among us wants to be known for something positive.

Paul advises Christians about spiritual life. We are not to live “as unwise,” but “wise,” redeeming the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).  Being alert and aiming to do good would be one way to redeem evil days.  

He also advised us not to be foolish, but to understand the Lord’s will (Ephesians 5:17). There are many places in the Bible where we are told how God wants us to live; however, when in doubt, we can ask, and God will answer (James 1:5).  

We get a few practical guidelines in Ephesians 5:18-20. We’re not to get drunk, lose our good sense, and act rashly or recklessly. Instead, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, who will help us do good and positive things, pleasing to God.

With psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, we can sing to the Lord and/or encourage each other. And we must always remember to give thanks to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is seated at the Father’s right hand, always ready to make intercession for us (Romans 8:34).

At the beginning of Creation, there was only darkness. The first thing God did was bring in light (Genesis 1:3-4). Jesus said people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19-20).  

He also declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Why be foolish and stumble away from God in the darkness, when He has offered light so we can clearly see how to live in His presence?

The result of living to please yourself will be destruction. The result of living to please the Spirit will be eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8).

Will you be foolish or wise? You don’t have to be a genius to know the difference, and the choice is yours!

Pixabay: signpost, waypoint, sign; succo.

 

What Faith Does

Faith makes life possible in both natural and spiritual ways. For example, by faith we pursue education or training, believing it will help us get a job.

By faith, I pursued a relationship with the man I would marry, believing him to be trustworthy. He proposed, I accepted, and he proved true in fifty-two years of marriage.

Faith is a basic requirement. By faith, we believe God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

People of faith are steady, not flighty. They’re focused on fulfilling a desire or goal. We’ll look at examples in the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11).

Faith can help us do three things: 1) Persevere, 2) Endure, and 3) Never Give Up.

Perhaps because I’ve lived in the Southwest desert, I admire Noah and his three sons for building a huge ark in a barren land. There was no water in sight, and rain was unheard of (Genesis 6:5-9:29). What an example of perseverance (Hebrews 11:7).

Mankind was so wicked, God was sorry He had created them. Yet, Noah was recorded as a blameless and righteous man who walked with God (Genesis 6:5-9). He was a misfit!

When you’re swimming against the current of wickedness, continue to persevere. God sees you, too. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous . . . (Psalm 34:15).

From childhood to old age, Moses is an example of endurance. His life was full of challenge and change (Hebrews 11:23-29). He wrote the first five books of the Bible, so we learn about his life there.

David was the man who never gave up. As a young shepherd, he was anointed to be King (1 Samuel 16). It was years before this happened, and often he was running for his life. As king, he had an affair with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, and even had Uriah murdered (2 Samuel 11-12).

But when God sent the Prophet Nathan to confront David about his sin, he humbled himself and asked God for forgiveness. Read his prayer in Psalm 51.

By faith, choose to persevere, endure, and never give up. That kind of faith will be rewarded on Judgement Day when we will be judged for our deeds (Revelation 20:11-15).

Pixabay: