OzThoughts – Wednesday 5th August 2009

OzThoughts – Wednesday 5th August 2009


Salvation Army Brigadier Josef Korbel was in prison. He knew all the suffering of the cold winter days and the even colder winter nights and the shortage of food. His crime? He was a witness for Jesus in a communist country. That was enough for him to go to prison.

Brigadier Josef Korbel was arrested in September 1949 by Communist agents in his home in Czechoslovakia. Taken away from his wife and three young children, he was imprisoned for more than a decade because of his "dangerous... religious influence." His crime? He was the leader of a Salvation Army youth band that played Christian hymns and witnessed for Jesus Christ to people who passed by.

In spite of his suffering for Jesus, Korbel continued to love and witness for him. He hoped his wife and family were safe. He hoped they were warm. He hoped they had enough food. He prayed that God, the Heavenly Father would care for them.

In prison Korbel knew he must continue to live for Jesus. He knew he must share Jesus with his fellow prisoners. He had so little to share. It is so long since I first read his story in a borrowed copy of his book “In Mine Enemy’s Camp”. I remember he determined to share his meagre portion of bread with his fellow prisoners. His daily ration was no where near enough but when he received it, he thanked God for it. He thanked God for his daily bread and remembered Jesus taking the bread and in breaking it saying “This is my body.”

Korbel took his daily bread and broke it. He slowly ate his half. He then hid the other half in his clothing until he met another prisoner and giving the portion of bread to him, knew he was sharing Jesus the Christ.

He was accused of getting an extra share, of taking more than he ought. In spite of these accusations, he knew God the Holy Spirit was with him as he shared Christ.

If we had a crust of bread would be share a few crumbs? Or would we in love, share Christ?

PRAYER:

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for Jesus who reminds me when I take and eat bread at breakfast, lunch or dinner on ordinary days that Jesus gave his body to be broken for me. I pray that I might be as generous in my living and giving for others as Jesus was for me. Help me not to give crumbs but to give ‘bread’ to sustain others in Christ’s name. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Listen: Meditation On A Theme By Spohr (Eric Ball) :
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_953.mp3 ]

My life must be Christ's broken bread,
My love his outpoured wine,
A cup o'erfilled, a table spread
Beneath his name and sign.
That other souls, refreshed and fed,
May share his life through mine.

My all is in the Master's hands
For him to bless and break;
Beyond the brook his winepress stands
And thence my way I take,
Resolved the whole of love's demands
To give, for his dear sake.

Lord, let me share that grace of thine
Wherewith thou didst sustain
The burden of the fruitful vine,
The gift of buried grain.
Who dies with thee, O Word divine,
Shall rise and live again.
Author: Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 512

Luke 22 (The Message – selected verses)

The Passover Meal

7The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered.

14When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him,
15and said, "You've no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering.
16It's the last one I'll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God."
17Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, "Take this and pass it among you.
18As for me, I'll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives."
19Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory."
20He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you.

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