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Christ Loves You with a PASSION

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“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34, NIV84)

What’s your passion?

Is there a hobby you especially enjoy doing? Cooking? Playing piano? Fixing cars? Long distance running? Most folks have a set of activities they choose to include in their schedules depending on their interests. It’s good to have such diversions. They have a way of adding spice to life. They can also revitalize us for the respective callings in life which the Lord has given us (in the home, at work, at church, and so on).

Speaking of “callings,” we will soon enter the season of Lent.

It’s the time of year when we ponder in a special way the calling God gave to His Son, Jesus. We are reminded how Jesus’ one burning desire—His passion—was to finish the mission His Father assigned to Him for our eternal blessing. For Jesus it was, of course, more than a hobby. It was THE reason He was born into the world. As we meditate on His work for us, it saddens us to think how it was our transgressions that brought such woe on Him. At the same time, it makes us happy. The basis for our happiness could be pictured by an acrostic on that word PASSION, as follows:

The P in “PASSION” stands for PREDICTED. We hear again and again in the passion account that everything took place so the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled (for an example, read Matthew 26:55-56). This is important because it proves that Jesus is our true Messiah, chosen by God to serve us in love.Christ Loves You with a PASSION

A Care Package from Jesus

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DEVOTION – THE LORD’S SUPPER

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

Who is the most popular person in the dormitory at Immanuel, Eau Claire? On any given day, that would be the one who has received a care package from home. When I was in high school
there and a brown-paper-wrapped box arrived from Seattle, my fellow dorm-dwellers naturally expected me to share some of the homemade goodies inside. I was genuinely glad when the box would arrive, and generally willing to share. Nothing says “love” like cookies, dried fruit and packaged soup, along with news from home! Oh, I was aware on other days, too, that my parents cared about me and were thinking of me. But the personal touch that came with a care package was an immediate and comforting expression of that love.

Have you received that kind of comfort lately from your true home—that is, your home in heaven?A Care Package from Jesus

Caught in a Storm (1504-1505)

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The ROAD TO REFORMATION In preparation for the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we are presenting a brief survey of the life of Martin Luther. The series will culminate in the October 2017 issue… Caught in a Storm (1504-1505)

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS February 2017

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“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS February 2017 

TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006

Date Verse Reading Comments

Feb 1 TLH 295 Romans 7:13-20 The Law is good, but it only leads us to recognize sin. It has no power to create spiritual life.

Feb 2TLH 297Romans 7:21-25Jesus Christ alone can set us free from sin and death.

Feb 3 TLH 446/LSB 418 Matthew 4:1-11 Although He was true God, Jesus went before the tempter as one of us. His defense is ours too: The Word of God.

Feb 4WS 771Matthew 4:12-22Jesus preaches and then shows His first disciples the joy of spreading the Gospel.

Feb 6TLH 557Matthew 4:23-25Along with sin came disease, sickness, and death into the world; but the Lord demonstrates His power over all these ills.“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS February 2017

Life of Luther—1498-1503

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The ROAD TO REFORMATION In preparation for the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we are presenting a brief survey of the life of Martin Luther. The series will culminate in the October 2017 issue… Life of Luther—1498-1503

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS January 2017

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TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006

Date Verse Reading Comments

Jan 2 TLH 123:1-4 Psalm 90:1-6 We have to admit that we are nothing next to God. What grace that He takes notice
of us at all!

Jan 3 TLH 123:5-6 Psalm 90:7-10 Even those sins we are not aware of are seen by the eyes of our God.

Jan 4 TLH 123:7-8 Psalm 90:11-17 The Lord’s forgiveness, compassion, and unfailing love shall bless us all our days.

Jan 5 TLH 134 John 3:1-4 Jesus revealed Himself as the One sent from God, and the miraculous signs confirmed it.

Jan 6 TLH 127; John 3:5-15 Salvation comes through Spirit-worked faith in Jesus.
LSB 401“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS January 2017

The Wisdom of the Wise Men

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DEVOTION – EPIPHANY

The account of the coming of the Wise Men stands out as one of the highlights of the Christmas and Epiphany seasons. That account should be especially important to us, the believers of the Gentile nations. We look to the Wise Men as the first of the Gentiles to know and worship Jesus as their Savior and Lord. When they arrived in Jerusalem following a long and arduous journey, they immediately began asking about the newborn King. It seems they expected the entire nation to be caught up in the excitement of this momentous event, the coming of the long-promised Messiah. Yes, the question they posed was regarding the birth of the King of the Jews, but they made it evident that they had come to worship Him. This was something more than the usual honor paid when a new crown prince was born. They were searching for their king, a spiritual king.The Wisdom of the Wise Men

Life of Luther — School Days

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The ROAD TO REFORMATION In preparation for the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, we are presenting a brief survey of the life of Martin Luther. The series will culminate in the October 2017 issue… Life of Luther — School Days

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS December 2016

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TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; [ ] = Biblical Events Noted

Date Verse Reading Comments [Festivals of the Church Year]

Dec 1 WS 796 Jeremiah 31:3-9 God never forsakes His believing children, but nourishes and cherishes His remnant.

Dec 2 TLH 493 Ezekiel 2:1-3:4 Although Ezekiel was being sent to a rebellious people, the power of God’s Word would be working through Him.

Dec 3 TLH 424 Jeremiah 32:1-25 Jeremiah wasn’t buying a field to farm it. The acreage was a reminder of God’s promise to restore His people.

Dec 5 TLH 207 John 20:1-18 “I have seen the Lord!” – Mary Magdalene could say it, and you and I will say it.“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS December 2016

“He is Elijah, Who is to Come”

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There are few Old Testament Bible accounts that captivate one’s imagination more than the story of the prophet Elijah.

Elijah served as the Lord’s mouthpiece in the northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. The nation was rife with idolatry. The Lord used Elijah to show the folly of worshiping Baal (the rain-god) and Asherah (the moon-goddess and consort of Baal), and hoped thereby to call the people to repentance. At Elijah’s word, there was no rain in Israel for three and a half years, and at his word, rain returned to the land. At Elijah’s word, the Lord sent fire from heaven to consume the waterlogged sacrifice and stones on Mount Carmel. When the Lord’s work for Elijah was complete, the Lord took His faithful servant, body and soul, to heaven.“He is Elijah, Who is to Come”