Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: Baptism & Communion
Weekend Music links on iTunes: God is With Us by Michael Olson; Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicky Beeching; Your Name by Paul Baloche; Lead Me to the Cross by Hillsong United.
READ: Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 11: 20-27
THINK: We are coming up on Labor Day, a nationally recognized day for us to remember the social and economic achievements of American workers. It saddens me to see some American's lose sight of why we celebrate special days like Labor Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day etc. Not to mention the over marketed days such as: New Years Day, Ground Hog Day, St. Valentine's Day, April Fool’s Day and one that can’t be left out - National Doughnut Day. However what is more troubling to me is when we lose sight of why we do Communion and why it’s so important.
It was great to hear Pastor Ben dig deeper in his teaching this week on why we do Communion. Especially when we read Jesus’ command in Luke 22 to take communion “in remembrance of me".
In a time where we have a national holiday for almost everything, I think it is good to take a moment and remember what Jesus did on the cross, how he died for our sins and how he rose on the third day. This should never be forgotten.
Imagine yourself sitting at the table when Jesus was saying “do this in remembrance of me”. Hearing the words come out of his mouth, breaking the bread, pouring the wine- how impactful that must have been, while at the same time scary. The last supper wasn’t just a regular meal. It was a sacred celebration of the Passover; a time when God spared his people from death. It was also a time of looking forward to a "new covenant" or promise from God that would come through the sacrifice that Jesus would pay on the cross. A one time payment that would secure eternity for all who would choose to believe in Him.
The Apostle Paul recounts this first communion in 1 Corinthians chapter 11.
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. - 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
DO: Reflect on what God did for you on the cross. This Labor day, think of all the Americans who work to make this country great, but also remember the laborious task that Jesus did by dying on the cross for our sins so we can have eternal life.
PRAY: Heavenly Father, I pray that I may never forget your son, how he died on the cross for my sins and that I may continue to practice Communion so that I may never forget how much I appreciate what you did for me and why I love you so.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.
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