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Communion
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Be Blessed by Embracing God's Values and Relating with Him through the Lord's Appointed Times of Unleavened Bread
TRUTH AND PURPOSE
God created mankind with relationships in mind: relationships with Him and with one another. His hope is that we get to know Him and value the relationship; as it is one intended to be experienced in the earth and for eternity in heaven. This relationship, or union, is expressed through a way of engagement called communion.
RELEVANCE
God's idea for a relationship with Him is a dynamic union flowing in the substance of His love and life—His Spirit. He desires quality relationships that will testify of His presence and active involvement in human affairs. In fact, through Daniel, He made this very clear before the king of Babylon, the leader of the world’s greatest power of the day, “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:32 NKJV).
More than expressing His dominion over the earth, God desires the devotion of the hearts of His children. It’s how He reigns through us. As He does, we get to participate in His awesome works! That’s why He seeks strong unions; and why He prayed before His closest disciples at the end of His earthly ministry the prayer recorded in John 17. Hear His heart in this snippet.
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." (John 17:20-23)
Paul understood that God intended for us to have a relationship with Him that would bless us with a sense of fulfillment, peace and joy. Such qualities bear the very fruit of His Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you... The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:11-14)
David, the man after God's own heart, experienced such a relationship with God. He understood that maintaining a practice of self-examination to stay right with God was a key element of the relationship. "Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart." (Psalm 26:2) For this same reason, Paul admonishes us to examine ourselves before participating in the LORD's communion. "So let a person examine himself first, and then he may eat of the bread and drink from the cup; for a person who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." (1 Corinthians 11:28-29 JNT)
As we engage with God through the Holy Spirit, we invoke His grace and activate His power, His sanctifying work in us. Truly, our relationship with God is intended to bring us bountiful blessings in life. May you drink of the cup of communion and be blessed as you engage in rich relationship with the LORD!
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread (1 Corinthians 10:14-17).
REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE
How do you examine your standing—or health of your relationship with God?
Are there crevices in your heart that the Holy Spirit may be shedding light upon to bring your heart into a greater degree of sanctification, and unity with God? What falsehoods might you be believing, holding onto, or trusting in that could be impacting your relationship with God?
REFERENCES
2 Thessalonians 2:13; 4:1-3; James 4; Ephesians 1:15-21
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