remeber

Luke 22:19
“This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Everything in the life of Christ was working toward His final hour. A moment in time when He, through His death, would provide life for all who believe. Prior to the events of the cross unfolding, Jesus took time to have a last meal with His closest followers. It was at this meal that He established the sacrament of communion. He told his disciples the bread was to represent His body which would be broken to provide healing, and the fruit of the vine would represent His blood, that would be shed for the removal of sin.

A few conditions are given to those who partake of communion. First, communion is for those who believe. The sacrament has its value in what it represents. The religious activity is of no value unless you are one who has received Christ as your Savior. Second, Paul spoke of partaking in an unworthy manner, meaning, if we have sin that has not been confessed and repented of, we should deal with it before we partake (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). Finally, Jesus tells us, the primary purpose of communion is remembrance. It is a time to focus on the Lord. As we hold the bread and the cup, we should be looking back to the cross, looking up to the Lord, looking forward to His return, and looking out at those who have not yet received Christ. Remember, Christ saved you through His work on the cross, and the day is coming when He will call you home.

Let’s be ready…

Pastor Jim

Maybe tonight around the dinner table you, as a family, should partake in communion together. Simply read through this passage, pass the elements, and pray.

Exodus 13:3
“And Moses said to the people: ‘Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.'”

The day of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt was so important that an annual feast was established to commemorate the events. It was important to the Lord that His people never forget the severe bondage they were under before He rescued them. He knew they would face great difficulty in the wilderness and within the promised land. Since these difficulties might discourage them, and even lead some to want to return to Egypt, it was important that they remember what life was really like before deliverance.

The same is true for us. Paul wrote to the Ephesians exhorting them to remember who they were before they came to Christ. Instead of allowing time to make us nostalgic and to create a unrealistic picture of our past life, God desires that we never forget that before Christ, we were separated from God and in bondage to sin.

Instead of looking at the world as though we are missing out on something, we should look at all that we have been delivered from. Praise God that the empty life we once lived is something of the past.

Pastor Jim