Father, before I begin this evening, I would lift up friends and family who are going through so much right now – loss of loved ones, recovering from strokes, cancer, complicated pregnancies. And You know each and every detail of every person right where they are at right now. Please be close by their sides. May they feel Your presence even as these words are typed and as they are read. Amen.
Mark 14:22-26 (<<click to read the passage)
I feel that coming together to commemorate the Last Supper is one of the most important things we do as a body of believers. Unfortunately, it may be something that is sort of taken for granted. We frequently hear the words being spoken – body, bread, blood, wine, cup, vine, covenant – but how often do we really take them to heart. It’s not just broken-up bread and juice in little cups. It’s not just wafers being placed on our tongues and us sipping the fruit of the vine from the chalice.
Each aspect of this commonly practiced ritual is so uncommonly special and rich and deep and so, so truly life-changing.
As I read through the notes in my study Bible* I had to slow down and process each statement…each word. Would you do the same?
The celebration of Communion…
- …humbles us before God. We confess our sins and restate our need for Christ to guide us.
- …reminds us that we are forgiven. We remember that his shed blood paid the price.
- …expresses our oneness in Christ. We are unified in our faith.
- …encourages us to recommit. We are reminded to pledge ourselves to serve him who died for us.
For many, this next Sunday morning will be a time when we will once more partake of this time together. I would challenge us all to slow down…process each statement…each word. Listen to the one that stands before you. And even more importantly, listen to the One, who once and for all, stood in your stead so that your salvation would be assured. May we never take it for granted again.
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
July 29th, 2019, Mon, 7:57 pm
