Happy Friday! As I think about holidays, I recall times as a kid when we would gather around the table. Family, friends, and invited guests were at the adult table and others were at the children’s table. At the table we shared prayer and spent time in communion (community/communication) with one another. We were encouraged, engaged in conversation, and felt love and acceptance regardless of the situation. Throughout the gospels, Jesus spent a lot of time at the table – sharing meals, feeding small and large groups, and teaching people. Today, we will read on Paul continuing that shared time. Join me as we continue our reading in Acts 20.

Bible Verse – Acts 20:7-12 NLT

“⁷ On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper.Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. ⁸ The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. ⁹ As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below.  ¹⁰ Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!”  ¹¹ Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. ¹² Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.”

Key points

• Paul spent a lot of time teaching and developing the church and believers.

• Mealtime was significant, but participating in the Lord’s Supper was even greater.

• Eutychus whose name means fortunate was brought back to life.

• Paul was still performing miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reflection

Paul was a bold and courageous leader of the faith. He understood the word, preached the word, lived by the word, and encouraged others in the word. Paul was often direct and challenged others, but he did not lose sight of the mission to go share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples. From region to region, often with a bullseye 🎯 on his back, he trusted the Lord.

Sisters and brothers, I know the world has changed a lot over the past three years, but look for opportunities to break bread and fellowship with those you love. Share the significance of community, love for one another, and most of all the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Begin to pray today and ask God who He would like you to break bread with this month or the next. Remember mealtime is significant, but your time in the presence of the Lord is greater. Spend time with Him. Invite the Lord to all your meals – commune with Him.

Prayer

Father God, we thank you for your willingness to commune with us. Thank you for the teachings and reminders in Your word of how significant it is to spend time with you. Lord, as we reflect on our lives we know mealtime is different for everyone, but time with you is available to everyone. Lord, speak to our hearts during our mealtimes. Help us to exchange time and thoughts with you and to hear from you. Lord, I can see it clearly that times when we are eating alone that that is a time where we can invite you into our space and spend time with you. Lord, we thank you for the importance of the Lord’s supper, we thank you for the community of believers that you have blessed us with, but Lord we also thank you for making it possible for all to be invited to the table. Thank you! Lord, we pray for those who are physically hungry and those who are spiritually hungry. Lord, as the bread of life, we ask that you provide the food and nourishment that we need to grow. Lord, we desire to be healthy, both physically and spiritually. Be with us and continue to teach us all your ways. In Jesus name, amen.

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