Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Psalm 77.

TEXT: All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to
the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship
before You (Psalm 22:27).

Tonight is an annual reminder of our Lord's Last Supper,
the beginning of His passion and suffering for our sins. And
right here at the start we begin with a special gift of Jesus,
as recorded in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25:

"The Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took
bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said,
'This is My body which is for you. DO THIS IN
REMEMBRANCE OF ME.'
 
"In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying,
'This cup is the new testament in My blood. Do this, as often
as you drink it, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.'"

An important part of receiving Holy Communion is
remembering what God did for us through Jesus Christ -- how
this very body was given into death for our sins, and this
precious blood was poured out for us. We remember His bitter
suffering and death, and the great victory He won over all our
enemies.

Whenever we are in turmoil, in doubt, fearful, or even on the
brink of death, we can remember that Jesus Christ has carried
our sins and won our salvation. Then in gratitude and joy we
spread the story, so all the families of the nations may come
before the Lord in peace, praise and worship -- and always
remember Him -- recalling what He has done for us all.

THE PRAYER:

 Lord Jesus Christ, this night we remember Your great sacrifice
as we eat Your body in the bread, and drink Your blood in the
wine. Cleanse us from our sins, strengthen us in faith, and
deliver us from all our foes. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Exodus 24:1-11.

TEXT: The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who
seek Him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live
forever (Psalm 22:26).

Whenever God's people were in distress in Old Testament
times, they would pray for help. When the Lord delivered
them they brought a sacrifice called a "peace offering."
In every other offering the whole animal was burnt on the
altar. But this sacrifice was unique because the
worshipper was given a portion of the sacrifice to eat.
This food was God's pledge and promise He had forgiven
the sinner and was now in full fellowship.

Tomorrow night Christians gather to celebrate how God
delivered us from the affliction of sin, death, hell and Satan
by sacrificing His Son Jesus Christ, the great Passover
 Lamb. And like the peace offering of old, God gives us
some of that precious sacrifice for us to eat and drink in
His presence. He shares the very body and blood of Jesus
Christ given and shed for our salvation.

When we eat and drink this great Supper, we are forgiven
all our sins, delivered from death and hell, and united in
fellowship with God our Father and Jesus Christ our
victorious King. We are also united together with all God's
children in heaven and on earth: the great assembly in
which Jesus our Lord proclaims His Father's goodness and
love.

Even in the midst of our troubles in this life Christ invites us
to come into His presence and seek His help and
deliverance, and eat the very sacrifice that won God's
mercy and forgiveness.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what afflictions I face, You are
with me. Strengthen me in the company of my Christian
brothers and sisters that we may honor You for Your great
deliverance. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Psalm 111.

TEXT: From You comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will perform before those who fear Him
(Psalm 22:25).

Jesus our victorious King accomplished so many great things
in this last week of His life. He cleansed the temple, healed
the sick, drove out demons, and taught the people. He rooted
out the false teaching of the priests and Sadducees, and
exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and experts in the
Law. He took our guilt and sin upon Himself and won our
complete and free forgiveness through His suffering, death
and resurrection.

Today He gathers us together in local congregations, uniting
us in His whole Christian church in heaven and on earth. We
declare His saving deeds and give Him our honor and praise.
Jesus turns those praises to His Father. The Father is the
Source of Jesus' praises. It was His mercy that led Him to
plan our salvation through Jesus. He was faithful to His
promises, good to undeserving sinners, and clearly showed
His love for His fallen human creatures.

In His great love for His Father, Jesus performs His vows-
first in offering Himself up for our sins, and now in distributing
the benefits of that sacrifice to us through His Word. Likewise,
He uses God-fearing pastors and Christians who faithfully
share what Christ has done for us. He uses Baptism in which
He washes away our sins, adopts us into His family, and
seals us with His Holy Spirit. And He uses Holy Communion
in which He gives us His own body and blood to assure us of
the full and complete forgiveness of all of our sins.

THE PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your loving-kindness
toward all of us Your creatures, and for giving Your Son Jesus
Christ to win our salvation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)