Our Daily Bread

The Fourth Petition.

Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean?--Answer.
God gives daily bread, even without our prayer, to all wicked men; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
What is meant by daily bread?--Answer.
Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as meat, drink, clothing, shoes, house, homestead, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful magistrates, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

 

The Lord provides. Lately, my granddaughter has been asking me if I am praying again. Yes, I do a lot of praying and no it doesn't matter to me if it's a public place. When she sees my head bowed it is an indicator not to interrupt my moment with God, unless it's an emergency. Mostly, during the day light hours, my prayers are prayers of thanksgiving. I could find a lot of things to grumble about if I let myself and sometimes I do. But, mostly I see the good things that He provides us with. I also see the opportunities He has given us who have been so blessed to feed His sheep their daily bread as well. Throughout the day, I find multitudes of opportunities to give thanks to God.

 

The Lord provides. Most often He provides our needs through others in whom He abides and through whom He continues to serve. 

 

The Lord provides. Give thanks to the Lord for providing you with your daily bread. Give thanks to the Lord that He has provided you with opportunities to provide food to those who are hungry.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

Love: The Two Tables of the Law

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" (Luke 10:27 NIV)

Jesus taught that the law can be summed up with this one word: love. We all fall short of keeping the law. Sometimes, it seems that the harder we try to keep the law, the harder it is to come near the goal. Instead of focusing on what we have to do or what we cannot do, might I suggest that we focus on loving, even as God loves us.

For the past three days we have dealt with what we teach as the first table of the law; that is, to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, strength, and minds. For the young person who is attempting to learn and even memorize the ten commandments, it is helpful to understand that these three commandments come first because God always comes first.

When the love of God is first in our lives, the rest of the commandments, the second table of the law, which is the love of neighbor, follows naturally behind even as a caboose will follow the train. The caboose can go nowhere without the engine. It follows wherever the engine will take it. Follow in the footsteps of Jesus who loves us so much he was willing to die for us.

When we put God before ourselves; when we follow Him, even the second table of the law will more naturally fall into place. That is not because it is natural for us to love; but, because it is the nature of God to love and we are connected to Him. As He abides in us and we in Him, His love abides in us and through us reaching out to a world in need.

According to St. Paul: "Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:10)

If your aim is to live according to the law, focus not so much on the shall not's. Rather, keep your heart and mind focused on what you have been given permission to do. That is to love: love the Lord your God and your neighbor. Focus on living more fully in the love of God for it is through love that the law is fulfilled.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 13:11-18 Who is the Anti-Christ?

Revelation 13:11-18 NIV
On the seventh day God rested. The number 777 if often used to symbolize the threefold perfection of the Trinity. On the sixth day God created humankind. Therefore, six being less than seven is sometimes used to symbolize man. In interpreting the 666 in John's vision, this number is often looked at as representing one evil man whose name can be translated into the number 666. It may well be that; but, personally, I have heard of way too many public (political and/or religious) figures whose names can add up to 666. We seem to be looking for a scapegoat; an excuse to demonize a person whom we personally don't happen to like or agree with. 666 could also symbolize, not just the one beast; but, the imperfect trinity found in Revelation, chapters 12 and 13: the dragon, the beast from the sea, and the beast that comes out of the earth. There most probably is more than one who is actively the anti-Christ.

And... that brings me to the idea that there is definitely more than one anti-Christ and that it is probably not a good idea (or very Christ-lie) to try to single out one man or woman. Jesus said, "“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Matt 10:30; Luke 11:23) Anyone who is not with Christ is against him and is anti-Christ. Six being the symbolic number for man and not just "a" man, I would suggest that we look not out to the world for some extreme anti-Christ; but, within ourselves to see if the anti-Christ resides within each of us. Either we are for Christ or against him. There is no in-between. Either Christ abides in us or he does not.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Sorry, but this is just a blog and since 666 is such a popular topic, there is no way I can go too much in depth and cover even a decent sized portion in a couple of paragraphs.