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RETURN TO THE TRUE GOSPEL: The Apostles Teachings
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UNITY IN THE BODY: The Missing Piece
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FAMILY: Don’t Give Up on Your Family
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MILITARY: Veterans are seed carriers
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GOVERNMENT: Pray for Our Leaders
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THE CHURCH: You are the Body of Christ
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EDUCATION: Awaken Educators
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MEDIA: Guard Your Heart
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BUSINESS: About Our Father's Business
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COMMUNION WITH THE LORD: Breaking of Bread
By Laura May, CoMission
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42
Devotional
The breaking of bread which many of us would consider communion is a sacrament; a very holy meal. Jesus’ request is that we do it; break the bread and drink from the cup in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19). He speaks of the “new covenant” in His blood (Luke 22:20). We often call the cup, the cup of thanksgiving. Jesus poured Himself out, making a new life possible for all people, for all time. We believe and partake of this cup and the bread, broken for, given for us.
Paul writes in 1 Cor. 11:26, “for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” To the Philippian church, Paul writes that he “considers everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:8) and later he adds in 3:10, “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Jesus wants to be with us. He came because of that. More than anything though, He wants to be with the Father. The original plan was for us to be together with them, always and forever. We made a different choice. I’m reminded of all the ways God pursued a relationship with us despite our choice. In Exodus 25:21-22 He spoke of a special trusting place; “Thou shall put the mercy seat above upon the ark…and there I will meet with thee and commune with thee from above the mercy seat.”
Coming together, communing as we break the bread and drink the cup of salvation affirms our relationship, reminds us of the depth of God’s great love, what He did to keep us together. We fulfill the desire of Jesus’ heart when we are together with Him and with each other in Him.
Jesus wants to be with us. He only wants us to want that too.
Prayer
Lord, as we come before You, at the mercy seat, at the communion table, with others or alone, may You see in our hearts the eager desire to be with You. You are the One who loves us the most. Amen