A STRONG HAND

Suggested Reading: Exodus 13

(click scripture link to read online)

Looking out at sunrise over the Judean desert we can see the Dead Sea in the distance and the mountain of Masada, Herod's fortress and where the Jewish freedom fighters made their last stand in 72 A.D..

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

Key Verse: Exodus 13:14

So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, “What is this” that you shall say to him, “By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage…” {The New King James Version}

Four times in today’s reading God’s “Strong Hand” is emphasized. Repetition in Scripture indicates the importance of, in this case, the word picture presented to us. Throughout the millennia, the Children of Israel, known today as Jews, have continued to repeat over and over those words in their annual family ritual known as the “Passover.” In every observant household a child will ask, “What is this?” Again in the Scriptures we read the word, “ordinance.” Simply put, it’s an order from God. Of course the Jews who were the first followers of Jesus continued this “remembrance” every year. It was at “Passover” that Jesus said, as He gave His disciples the bread and wine, “This do in remembrance of Me.” When must obedient Christians partake? There is no set time as is the case of “Passover.” The word “often” is important. It can be daily; it can be weekly; it can be monthly or even annually. But time must be set aside regularly to obey the orders of Jesus to partake in the “Lord’s Supper.” For supplementary reading, go to Matt. 26:26-29, Luke 22:14-20, 1 Cor. 11:23-31.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You established what we refer to as “Communion.” Please grant me the grace of consistently obeying Your standing orders to repeat often the observance You established. May I partake of the bread and the fruit of the vine with a deep discernment of Your sacrifice. With Your “Strong Hand” You reached out to the whole human family, and we nailed Your Hands to the Cross. Thank You for the Gift of Your Body and Blood. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I want to introduce you to Sam Moore, owner and operator of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the company which financed the new translation of the “King James Version” of the Bible. Approximately every 100 years another translation of the classic version, KJV, is presented to the world. I was raised on an older translation. For example the words “thee” and “thou” are not in use in every day conversation. It would be next to impossible for anyone today to read with understanding the actual translation from 1611. A spoken language is constantly changing. Sam is my friend. His vision to bring together the finest scholars during the 1970’s caught my attention. He came several times as a guest on TV with me. Some of his scholars were also my guests. Sam was an imigrant from Lebanon to the USA who began selling Bibles from door to door as a university student to pay for his board, room and education, and was so successful that I have beside me as I type, the New King James Version, my favourite modern translation of God’s Word. Thank You Sam! Click here for more about Sam or here to find his biography book.

Yours for a greater understanding of God’s revelation of His thoughts printed in the language I know best, English,

David

Thank you for all the birthday wishes this week for both my dad and mom, David and Norma-Jean. I thought I'd send you this picture I took of them with their birthday cake. -Ron Mainse