The Lord's Supper
Once a month, at least in our church, we take extra time, unless the pastor shortens other parts of the service, which he doesn't usually do, to observe the tradition of the Communion Service.
Oh yes, we have to do this because Paul and Jesus and maybe some other people, told us to. But other than that, why do we do this? Is it a burning desire in our hearts, or just another thing that is done at church.
I must confess that I have not often thought about this aspect of the church services. It was after all a tradition, and a Biblical one at that, so we do it.
We have moved the Lord's Supper! Now before some of your go scrambling around looking for it, just relax. Instead of tacking it on at the end of the service we are attempting to make it a part of the service. Like in the middle, with the pastor giving a short message highlighting some aspect of the meaning of the Lord's Supper.
Recently my friend Owen Strachan blogged at http://owenstrachan.com/ regarding: Are Roommates the new family? He commends that these roommates are looking for something that is good: a sense of community. Yet they are looking in the wrong place. We shall never find fellowship, belonging, love, unity and place in this fallen world that completely satisfies while at the same time emphasizes the Biblical responsibility of love.
Certainly from time to time we catch glimpses of the fellowship promised by the Savior to his people. His promise is big, much bigger and deeper than we can now grasp. The Lord's Supper gives us such a glimpses into the other world fellowship. Until we are there we can not fully know it, but we may know it, in part, today. Oh the depths of the love of God. He not only is taking people of every race, nation, tribe and tongue and saving us, he is also making us one.
The text for our services for the next couple of weeks will be John 17:20-26. Who am I to teach such truths as one finds here?! Yet, this is where our Chief Shepherd as brought us. May our Savior lift us up, not just to an escape from hell, but into the glories of Christ and the fellowship of the eternal Godhead. May we take the bread and cup as a member of something wonderful, something awesome and of something far bigger and deeper that just tradition.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Believers are called upon to run the race.
There are several factors that go into this racing business which must be combined in order for us to have success.
Here, at the starting line, though most of us are well along the course, or at least we hope so. Which direction are we facing? Do we know the directions or signs along the course so that we will not get lost? So one of the ingredients to a successful race must be either knowledge of the course itself or knowledge pertaining to reading signs along the way.
A second item would be that of persistence. Staying power! One might have knowledge of the route, but gets tired, burnt out or distracted. The race is put on the back burner, thus is never finished.
Conversely, one may have a great deal of persistence, zeal, energy and a lot of other good things, yet if one mis-reads the signs along the way or is on a course set from misinformation he will not run the race either. He will have run his own race, rather than the official one.
While it is possible to run this race alone, from a certain perspective that is the only way possible, one may be encouraged if other are also running the race, not as competitors but as fellows pilgrims, all heading for the same goal. Here there are two parts to racing with another: being able to be encouraged by another and being able to encourage another.
May the Lord give us love for him, so that we will desire to run towards him all of our life. May the Lord give us a love for his word, that we run the course approved of our God. May the Lord grant that we receive the prize.
Amen.
There are several factors that go into this racing business which must be combined in order for us to have success.
Here, at the starting line, though most of us are well along the course, or at least we hope so. Which direction are we facing? Do we know the directions or signs along the course so that we will not get lost? So one of the ingredients to a successful race must be either knowledge of the course itself or knowledge pertaining to reading signs along the way.
A second item would be that of persistence. Staying power! One might have knowledge of the route, but gets tired, burnt out or distracted. The race is put on the back burner, thus is never finished.
Conversely, one may have a great deal of persistence, zeal, energy and a lot of other good things, yet if one mis-reads the signs along the way or is on a course set from misinformation he will not run the race either. He will have run his own race, rather than the official one.
While it is possible to run this race alone, from a certain perspective that is the only way possible, one may be encouraged if other are also running the race, not as competitors but as fellows pilgrims, all heading for the same goal. Here there are two parts to racing with another: being able to be encouraged by another and being able to encourage another.
May the Lord give us love for him, so that we will desire to run towards him all of our life. May the Lord give us a love for his word, that we run the course approved of our God. May the Lord grant that we receive the prize.
Amen.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
The election is over, or will be soon, as there are still a few races here and there that are too close to call.
Our town voted for McCain, and I believe a fair number of our church membership did not vote for Obama. So where does this leave us? Are we angry? Complaining? Do we wonder where our God is? Or, do we just shrug this off?
Matthew records a very interesting prayer offered by Jesus to His father: (ESV) Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
In respects to salvation Christ declares this issue to be in the hands of the “Lord of heaven and earth”, yet we men often likes to lay claim to being sovereign as to if and when we 'decide' for Jesus. However, if it is true that the Son could “thank” the Father that some would not ever come to know the Son, we may also ask “Would Jesus be thankful for Obama being elected as President”? The answer is “Yes, he would.” And as Christ is the one who has been “handed” all things by the Father, believers must acknowledge that Obama is the president elect because Christ is in control.
Similarly, Paul gave us the following: (ESV) Eph 1:22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The context expands on this to some extent so please read that as well. Christ has all authority. He exercises this authority not just to do the will of God, but particularly to do good for his people; to bring them salvation and to develop Christ's likeness in them. Therefore, we must look at each leader, on every level, that we have over us, and also at people who might be under us, and declare that this is so because Christ has willed it to be thus.
In light of these Scriptures, and many others like them, we must conclude that grumbling and complaining is a statement directly against our Lord and God, whom we believers do declare to be a 'good God'. Thus, to adopt the words and attitude of Christ is imperative, especial as we acknowledge that the grace of God is working in his people to conform us to the likeness of Christ, the Lord.
Having said all of the above, does this mean then that we ought to expect godly things from an Obama administration? At this point, we will have to wait and see, though the evidence seems to stacked against such a hope. Look at the rulers, both local and global, at the time of Paul, Peter and John. Yet the admonishment from their writings is to submit to the authorities over us for the Lord's sake.
May we do so, as people who know the Only True God and his sent Son, Jesus Christ. Obama is president elect because our good Lord has so willed.
Our town voted for McCain, and I believe a fair number of our church membership did not vote for Obama. So where does this leave us? Are we angry? Complaining? Do we wonder where our God is? Or, do we just shrug this off?
Matthew records a very interesting prayer offered by Jesus to His father: (ESV) Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
In respects to salvation Christ declares this issue to be in the hands of the “Lord of heaven and earth”, yet we men often likes to lay claim to being sovereign as to if and when we 'decide' for Jesus. However, if it is true that the Son could “thank” the Father that some would not ever come to know the Son, we may also ask “Would Jesus be thankful for Obama being elected as President”? The answer is “Yes, he would.” And as Christ is the one who has been “handed” all things by the Father, believers must acknowledge that Obama is the president elect because Christ is in control.
Similarly, Paul gave us the following: (ESV) Eph 1:22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The context expands on this to some extent so please read that as well. Christ has all authority. He exercises this authority not just to do the will of God, but particularly to do good for his people; to bring them salvation and to develop Christ's likeness in them. Therefore, we must look at each leader, on every level, that we have over us, and also at people who might be under us, and declare that this is so because Christ has willed it to be thus.
In light of these Scriptures, and many others like them, we must conclude that grumbling and complaining is a statement directly against our Lord and God, whom we believers do declare to be a 'good God'. Thus, to adopt the words and attitude of Christ is imperative, especial as we acknowledge that the grace of God is working in his people to conform us to the likeness of Christ, the Lord.
Having said all of the above, does this mean then that we ought to expect godly things from an Obama administration? At this point, we will have to wait and see, though the evidence seems to stacked against such a hope. Look at the rulers, both local and global, at the time of Paul, Peter and John. Yet the admonishment from their writings is to submit to the authorities over us for the Lord's sake.
May we do so, as people who know the Only True God and his sent Son, Jesus Christ. Obama is president elect because our good Lord has so willed.
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