On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:23b-26 (NLT)
Dear Friends,
The congregation at the Chapel service we co-host with other volunteers has attendees from several religious traditions. Evangelicals join with Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopalians, and others to praise God, share the Good News, of Jesus Christ, and love one another. About once a month, we celebrate what some call the “Eucharist,” others refer to as the “Lord’s Supper,” and others know as “Communion.”
For those who aren’t familiar with the terms: Eucharist comes from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning thanksgiving. the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks (eucharisteō) to God for it.
Communion (or sharing) is a translation of the Greek word koinonia. When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing (koinonia) in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ?
During communion, we come together to a share a meal, with thanksgiving, at which we remember the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us. But communion is not just about remembering; it is also a time to recommit to the covenant we have made with God to be his people. “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood.”
Communion can serve as a checkpoint to see how well we are doing in our walk with God. It’s a perfect time to check the three “P’s” — Prayer, Praise, and Proclamation. Are we turning to God in prayer? Are we praising him for all he has done for us? Are we proclaiming him as Lord in our life?
Janine Van Beek, a traveling companion of Corrie Ten boom, talked about the holocaust survivor’s walk with the Lord. “Corrie prayed about everything. One time she need a new pair of shoes, so she prayed before she went shopping. When she came home, she pulled out the shoes and said, look what God has given me.”
That small incident was just one example of Corrie Ten Boom’s commitment to walk with God. What in our life would people be able to point to as evidence of our commitment to the Lord? What does our heart say about our commitment? Besides taking communion, what do we do in remembrance of him?
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:5-6 (NIV)
Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ
Because He Loves Us Press 