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Implications of the Lord's Supper


Implications of the Lord's Supper
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Reference: SHM-S01-001-Mw-R01-P2

(Originally spoken on 25 August 2005, edited on 5 September 2009, revised on 22 September 2011)

Web site: http://www.ajourneyinlife.org and http://www.ajourneyinlife.com

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Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

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As we prepare ourselves for the Lord's Supper, let us ponder over what the Lord Jesus has done for us, His love for us, His sacrifice in order to help us, to offer us Life. And as we consider His grace and His kindness, His compassion toward us, let us consider how we should respond to Him.

The apostle Paul was a man who understood how much God had done for him, and arising from the depth of his gratitude, he responded deeply. He said in

1 Corinthians 15: 10

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

As we have benefited from God's grace, as we have grown in our lives, as we become busy with many things to do, we need constantly to refresh ourselves, be conscious of what He has done for us.

Are we conscious that it is by the grace of God that we have become what we are that is meaningful and good? And are we responding to Him in a way where His grace would not prove vain?

One of the practical implications of this is the way in which we live our lives. The apostle Paul says, "I labored". We need to work hard to labour, not just to be thankful to God in our hearts, in our expression of words, but in the way we live our lives each day. The way we labour, the apostle Paul expresses, is not something that is easy, something that is pleasant. It can include much pain, hardship, difficulties that we need to go through. In fact, the word "labor" is the same word that can be used to describe a woman going through labour. It can be very painful and difficult. But it is to produce something meaningful, to bring forth a child.

So too, as we work hard, we labour together with the Lord, we can bring forth something meaningful. And the apostle Paul says, "yet, not I, but the grace of God with me" - the need always to remain humble and grateful and dependent on Him.

The Lord's Supper should help us to be conscious that we have sinned against God, we deserve judgment but God, in His grace, helped us. It should help us to be grateful, humble and also to recognize that we need always to depend on Him in order to live well.

The apostle Paul also shared how we need to consider the whole way in which we live our lives: the attitude, the values that we hold. He says in

2 Corinthians 5: 15

And He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

As we appreciate what the Lord has done for us, we must change our way of living: from self-centred living to living for the Lord and His will.

Let us, as we partake of the Lord's Supper, not do so as a routine, but in a prayerful spirit, looking to the Lord to consider what He expects of us. What would be meaningful to Him? What does it mean in practical terms in our daily lives: How should we spend our time, what should be constantly in our hearts, how should we respond to the situations around us?

Let us come before the Lord and seek His grace that He may help us to respond well to Him. Let us pray.