Last week at the close of our Sunday morning worship service we had communion. What do we really think about communion? If you go to a church like mine you are taught that communion is one of only two sacraments, the other being baptism. They are sacraments, I suppose because we have record that Jesus actually told us to do them and did them both himself. As my thoughts this week were particularly drawn to communion, that is the sacrament that I'd like to focus on.
Since I've been a little girl I've been taking communion. I have distinct memories of Pastor Bates reciting the words of Christ from the last supper as He broke the bread..."this is My body broken for you", and again as he was getting ready to distribute the trays of tiny shot glasses filled with grape juice..."this wine is a symbol of My blood poured out for you. As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup do so in remembrance of Me until my return." For me it has always been a very somber practice, filled with introspection and confession. This past week my thoughts were drawn in a direction that they had never gone before and this new perspective left me with a new sense of joy as I held onto my tiny shot glass of grape juice.
The thought was simply of Christ - now. Now, not only Christ on the cross, but Christ now, in the present. How was He communing with us as His Bride as we were "taking" communion? I know that it is important for us to come to communion seriously and with no unconfessed sin harbored in our hearts...but why? Because it's good to be clean...well yes, but even more so because we as the Bride of Christ are joining with our Groom in this beautiful act of WORSHIP!
Ah, worship that is supposed to be meaningful and enjoyed by us and by our Groom. So, that is when I found myself sitting there with a big smile on my face. The thought that my Lord, Jesus was getting enjoyment from the love of His Bride as he received our worship through communion - that thought was just so wonderful!
What are your thoughts? I'd love to discuss this with you.
