"Come And Eat Breakfast" (Jesus)

"Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread....Jesus said to them, 'Come and eat breakfast.'" (From John 21)

"Come and eat breakfast."  I experienced this today.

Well, I don't know if you received my short video, but it was a little reflection on what happened to me this morning.  I was listening to my Psalms while I was having some eggs, toast and coffee.  "All of a sudden," the text which I used for yesterday's devotional came to me, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."  There I was, "a sinner saved by grace," eating breakfast with the very, "Word of God," Himself, Jesus.  I simply cannot tell you what happened to me.  There was no large gathering, no electronics, no "worship leader," no anything but, "the Words of God," and I sitting in our little kitchen having breakfast with Jesus.  Simplistic?  

It was another example of what I call, The Isaac Experience.  You remember the verse in Genesis which tells of Isaac going out to the field in the evening.  It was Isaac and Jesus, no fanfare, no big name to "usher him into the presence," just a man and his Maker, "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide...."  So today I am reminded of a Biblical "morning and evening" very personal, wonderful, glorious encounter. 

I am not an anti-corporate-worship person.  I greatly enjoy the times when we can be with the "Church gathered."  But let's face it; the vast majority of our lives, that is, for most of us, is not in the "Church Gathered," but in the proverbial "Church Scattered," as, most likely, for you right there, now. 

"Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms."  Enjoy your dinner today with/in Jesus.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for what You are doing in me.  Amen.
************************
We are getting closer to our need for this Fall's Mission.  Thanks to those who are partnering with us.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

You Have Been Received--Now Eat

"This Man receives sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:2b)

Our text is from my reading of a couple days ago.  I am still, however, going in the wonderful, blessedness of the reality.  I, a sinner, have the privilege of being "received" by, "sitting down with," and eating with the Living Triune God, the Lord, King, "The Eternal One," Sustainer of the Universe.  Lost, defeated, unworthy though we may feel, it is as though the Lord Jesus Christ says to you and me, "It's all right now, friend.  Sit here with me and let us eat together." 

Jesus not only paid the price of my sin in His most precious Blood, death and resurrection.  Jesus did not only pay the price for my eternal life in Glory, but He also makes this life extremely worthwhile, full of peace, hope, and joy:  "And He walks with me and He talks with me."  Jesus', "and eats with them", is what I enjoy continually, moment by moment, as 1 Thess. 5 says, "....that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." 

I noticed that I have written over 2000 devotionals over the last decade or so.  Repeat myself?  In reality, I hope so; and why?  Because the wonder of our Father, our Savior Jesus, our Holy Spirit is such that I never grow tired of hearing of It/Him daily, continually.  I shall repeat often, and in my daily walk shall continue to marvel in, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them."  Also, This Wonderful Lord Jesus Christ, 'receives,' me and, 'eats with [me].'"

So, my fellow "received sinner," let's eat!

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that You receive me and eat with me.  Amen. 

*********************
Fall Mission:  October 28-November 15.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....Of David When He Was In A Cave"

"Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me.  I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.....You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.....I spread out my hands to You; I thirst for You like a parched land....Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails....Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love....Show me the way I should go....Rescue me from my enemies....Teach me to do Your will...; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." (From today's Psalm readings, Psalm 142 & 143, NIV)

This is "cave-Presence."  And, if you want to know what to do "when [you are] in a cave," pray our text.

We see from our text that David was running for his very life.  Every moment of his life was filled with uncertainty as to his end.  He was out numbered, without a home.  Even though he had a few friends with him, he said, "....There is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me.  I have no refuge; no one cares for my life."  Could this be the classic "alone in a crowd."  Most know what this feels like.  The pressures and heartaches, the vanished dreams can make life seem like David's, "....when he was alone in a cave."  Yet even though David "was in a cave," he declared, affirmed, "You are my refuge, my portion (literally, "my territory"), all I really want in life" (NLT).

Jesus is, "The Lord...my Shepherd...."  Of our Lord Jesus Christ we can say with absolute confidence, "I shall not want," or, "....I have all I need," or, "I lack nothing."  Even though the world lists its "I lacks," you and I see in our Lord Jesus Christ, the physical Manifestation of the Godhead, our, "I lack nothing."  David, as do all of us from time to time, had his relapses, but he always seemed to be "jerked back" into reality.  In that cave, alone, seemingly abandoned, he could still affirm, "You are my refuge, my portion ('my territory')."  

This life can take everything and everyone from us.  This life cannot take our Shepherd, Jesus, from us.  Whether "in a cave," sickness or health, poverty or wealth, the office or great worship gatherings, no matter, "When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You Who watch over my way."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I worship You and give You thanks for You.  Amen.
*********************
About half way to our Mission need

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Rejoice With Me!"

"....Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!"  (Luke 15:6)

This is Heaven's celebration with our Lord Jesus Christ when He "finds" a lost sheep, when He found me, when He found you.

I read an article which said, "Sheep are best known for their strong flocking (herding) and following instinct....When one sheep moves, the rest will follow, even if it is not a good idea....The flocking and following instinct of sheep is so strong that it caused the death of 400 sheep in 2006 in eastern Turkey."  What a perfect description of humanity.  Even the most proud is still a sheep.  He/she make think they are "leaders," but they really are not.  They "follow" whatever suits their ego, even though they think they are leading their worshipers.  

You know, one could really be offended by being compared to sheep.  But that, my friend, we are by our Lord Jesus Christ.  And the "flocking (herding) and following instinct" is very good when it comes to living as Jesus intended for the Church and our relationship in Him.  But who would not affirm that it is "not a good idea" when following one of our own.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."  Most importantly here is that Jesus knows His sheep.  Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit, "know them," long before they/we know Him.  Praise Him!   "....And they follow Me."  We do not follow one another.  Yet how many times throughout history did "sheep...known for their strong flocking (herding) and following instinct," even when "it was not a good idea," nevertheless followed others, especially those strong-willed "leaders," and some even to spiritual death.  Submission to leadership, respect for spiritual authority, honoring are all good principles, but not so if it leads to the cliff.

"Rejoice with me...."  And I do.  I rejoice that Jesus found me, that I surrender to his "finding" and not the "finding" of my culture, gender, ethnicity.  This, "sheep which was lost", is now a, "found...sheep."  What comfort.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that I am a sheep.  I rejoice that You found me.  Amen.
********************
Berlin Mission:  October 28-November 15    

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Today Is Luke 14 Day in the Quarter

"And He said to them, 'Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?'" (Luke 14:5, NASB)

From the Jews standpoint, this is what sent Jesus to the Cross.  But from the Godhead's standpoint, we know that it was your sin and my sin which "caused" the Cross.  To say that Jesus "radicalized," or "upset the apple cart," or destroyed the prevailing thinking of the day concerning His "Law/Words", is to put it mildly. 

The Gospels reveal over and over that the religious folk just could not get Jesus into their mold, into their traditional way of doing religion; therefore, they hated Him, and, as John says, "For this reason the Jews persecuted Him, and sought to kill Him, because He did these things on the Sabbath."  What were, "these things," which Jesus did, "on the Sabbath"?  Well Jesus, as Peter said of Jesus to the Romans gathered that day in a soldier's house, "....went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil."  This is the Eternal Purpose of the Blessed Trinity.  This is the Bible's, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father...." 

Religious folk forget that, "the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."  One could also say this of the law.  And for sure we can say this of the Church, and those thousands of local congregations and "ministries" throughout the Earth.  Too many "ministries," however, are guilty of existing for themselves rather than, "....made for man...," to serve and care, "....for man....  It is supposed to be that FHMP was "made" for you, not you for FHMP.

Father, in Jesus' Name, as You, so may be I----- "for man."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2