January 30, 2018 - THE TABLE IS SET

Day 30 - (Today’s Bible readings: Genesis 23, Psalm 28, Matthew 14:1-21)

16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.  (Matthew 14:16-21 ESV)

“They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” Jesus said those words in preparation for His miraculous feeding of the 5,000. It was truly a miracle! Five loaves and two fish actually fed all of those people, with twelve baskets full left over.

Would you like to have been there to witness that amazing event?

You do have the opportunity to witness another amazing event. In Holy Communion Jesus provides an even more miraculous meal for us. In, with and under simple bread and wine, Jesus serves us His true body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins.

♬ Draw near and take the body of the Lord,
And drink the holy blood for you outpoured;
Offered was He for greatest and for least,
Himself the victim and Himself the priest.
(The Lutheran Service Book, CPH, # 637, stanza 1)

Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting me to Your table today. I believe that You died in payment for my sins. I sincerely repent of them. Lord, may Your body and Your blood be for my soul the highest good. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!