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Daily Devotions
Daily Devotions Provided by Pastor Whit McMillan
Whit McMillan is a pastor, author, advisor, Christian servant, and retired military chaplain. It is a joy and an honor to share these devotional “windows” from Pastor McMillan for your personal blessing and growth.
| Devotion for March 10, 2010 |
| EUCHARIST 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 A SONY THAT GIVES COMMUNION! I once saw an advertisement in a church newspaper that read, "With all due regard to Christian television, have you ever seen a Sony that gives communion?" This is a good reply to those who say they "can worship God at home, in front of the TV" better than at church. No doubt television evangelists have brought many to faith. But "Sony religion" misses out on an important aspect of life in Christ: the experience of receiving the Lord's Supper. Each time this sacrament is celebrated, I get a new vision of unity with my fellow church members I feel, and I experience power, strength and renewal in the sacrament as it revitalizes my ebbing religious life. This can't happen on the Sony! When St. Paul recorded the institution of Holy Communion in the Upper Room the night Jesus was betrayed, he stressed the dynamic power of this sacrament for our spiritual strengthening. In the early church, going to Holy Communion was serious business. In the first place you were not invited to partake, unless you had received the Apostles' teaching to insure you knew what was all involved. "Examine yourselves," Paul exhorted. He stressed the importance of receiving the sacrament worthily. It was not child's play! Perhaps we need a reminder from St. Paul today about the effect of "worthy" receipt of Christ's body and blood in the Eucharist. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer says it so well: "Deliver us, good Lord, from the presumption of coming to this table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal." This sentence tells us to look at the Eucharist as God's motivating power for the future as well as forgiveness for the past. I think this is extremely important. In my theological training what was stressed was getting forgiveness for my past sins - so much that I wondered what would happen if I died between communions! In my immature way of thinking, maybe it would be best if God took me to heaven just as soon as I had communed, before I could commit any more! True, the Eucharist gives relief through forgiveness of sins past, but it also points us forward to the future, giving us "strength to amend our sinful lives" and daily power for renewal of faith and trust in Jesus! With such spiritual dynamite in the Lord's Supper, it becomes something we want for ourselves - something we may not get, unless we believe heartily what Scripture tells us about this "wagon of the Holy Spirit {Luther}" by which God's Spirit keeps on working in us! Jesus, thank You for giving us the sacraments - baptism and the Lord's Supper. May each time we partake of Holy Communion be very special, so that we joyfully anticipate and receive not only relief for our sins of the past, but hope for amended lives more dedicated and focused on You! |