This Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. we are taking one hour before our regular corporate worship service to celebrate communion together. This week I want to share a devotional by Jim Cymbala entitled “Why Do We Take Communion?”  Read this before Sunday, you’ll be glad you did. See You Sunday … Pastor Byron 

“Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24)

There are two institutions that our Lord Jesus Christ left for the church.  The first was included in the Great Commission, when Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).  Baptism a one-time thing; and every believer should obey that command of the Lord.  But the Lord also left us the church practice of communion; and in his New Testament letter to the church, the apostle Paul exhorts us, “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”  Why wasn’t this practice also a one-time thing, like baptism?  One of the reasons is because God knows our hearts and the way the enemy of our souls attacks us.  Therefore, God wants us to keep remembering the blessedness of our position in Christ. 

We are saved, not because of how many verses we’ve read or whether or not we’ve had a good day, or because we’ve been a good person.  We are accepted by God as his children only through the blood and body of Jesus.  What he did on the cross gives us forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and access to— and relationship— with our heavenly Father. 

Perhaps you haven’t started the year well; you may have even been irritable due to your circumstances.  Although we have to trust the Lord to help us with every situation, the practice of Communion reminds us that it’s not how long we prayed today or whether we were pleasant or even grateful that determines whether we are saved.  It’s because we have put our faith in Savior of the world. 

The enemy of our souls wants us to move off that position, however.  He will whisper, “How do you feel today?  Have you been good lately?  Have you repented of all your sins?  How about that meltdown you had?  Do you think God is happy with the way you spoke to your spouse?”   But if we allow ourselves to be moved away from remembering that it was the blood of Jesus that washed away our sins, we’re in no-man’s-land.  God didn’t say, “When I see your feelings I will pass over you,” or “When I see your obedience I will pass over you.”  He said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you”!  We all need to remember why we’re saved; because one of Satan’s names is “the accuser,” who tells us, “Look at what you did two years ago” or “…two hours ago.”  And soon he has us looking backwards and looking within, instead of looking at Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. 

As we take communion, we remember Jesus’ body given for us and his blood shed for us; and we serve notice to Satan that we have been redeemed not with perishable things, such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of the Lamb.  Can you imagine how precious to God is the blood of Jesus?  Satan will try to convince us that our sins are not completely erased, but we have to say, “Get thee behind me, Satan.  I’ve been purchased not with the blood of calves and bulls, but with the blood of God’s own Son!” 

“There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  Let us remember that every time we take communion with the body of Christ.