It is a cold, blustery day, but I am blessed with a warm house and all the many other amenities. Thank You, Father, for Your blessings!

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (<<click here to read the passage)

I regularly use today’s passage when administering communion to my congregations. I find it to be a concise yet all-inclusive communication of that momentous event in the life of Christ and the life of the Church as well. It reads,

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. NIV

John Wesley was a firm believer in the utmost importance of receiving the Lord’s Supper regularly. Referring to communion, he states in one of his sermons,

“The grace of God given herein confirms to us the pardon of our sins by enabling us to leave them. As our bodies are strengthened by bread and wine, so are our souls by these tokens of the body and blood of Christ. This is the food of our souls: this gives strength to perform our duty, and leads us on to perfection. If therefore we have any regard for the plain command of Christ, if we desire the pardon of our sins, if we wish for strength to believe, to love and obey God, then we should neglect no opportunity of receiving the Lord’s Supper” (Sermon 101: The Duty of Constant Communion, §I.3).

So, just like our bodies require regular sustenance – food and drink – to continue functioning as they need to, we must partake of the bread and fruit of the vine to maintain our spiritual vitality. As Wesley said, it is the food of our souls.

It’s essential to take part in times of communion and, when we do, to make sure we are taking advantage of the sustenance offered. How many times do we go through the motions of communion? Do we just numbly take part, not really thinking about its importance in sustaining us spiritually?

I would challenge you in that many congregations – at least those who observe taking communion on the first Sunday of the month, which is this next Sunday – to focus on what you are doing. Look at the entire event as a means of strengthening yourself for what is to come in your life. Think of it as an opportunity to obtain strength to perform your duty as a follower of Christ. May it lead us on to perfection. May it be our source of strength to believe, love, and obey God in every aspect of our lives. Amen!

Nov 28th, 2023, Tues, 1:17 pm