Communion Meditation January 19, 2014 Philippians 2.12-18: Pew Bible Page # 12-13) So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 14-16) Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 17) But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18) You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. Our Daily Bread; from a sermon by Steve Trail, The Measure of a Mother, 8/31/2011 Archibald Rutledge wrote that one day he met a man whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken, the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he worked out-of-doors, he often took his dog with him. That morning, he left the animal in a clearing and gave him a command to stay and watch his lunch bucket while he went into the forest. His faithful friend understood, for that is exactly what he did. Then a fire started in the woods, and soon the blaze spread to the spot where the dog had been left. But he did not move. He stayed right where he was, in perfect obedience to his master’s word. With tearful eyes, the dog’s owner said, I always had to be careful what I told him to do, because I knew he would do it. Ephesians 6.5-8: Pew Bible Page # 5-6) Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7-8) With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. As Moses was given instructions about the Passover, he made sure that every family understood the importance of being obedient to those instructions. He stressed the importance of being ready, how to prepare the herbs, and the lamb. He was explicit on how the blood was to be applied to the door facings. He emphasized the necessity for obedience. On that night as Jesus broke and blessed the bread, He was demonstrating to his disciples that in just a few short hours He would be obedient to the will of His father. As the wine was poured and blessed, Jesus again demonstrated the need for a perfect blood sacrifice. From the time of His birth, throughout His life, even as He was dying on the cross, Jesus was obedient to the will of His Father. In Luke 2.41-52, we see Jesus about His Father’s business. In all things, we see Jesus being obedient to the will of His Father. Today we are here to worship and to take part in our Lord’s Supper not because of our good works, but because we were obedient to the living Word of God. As we take part in out Lord’s Supper, as take time to remember the trials, the beatings, and the cross, please remember that if Jesus had not been obedient to His Father’s will, we would have no hope. Without obedience we would have never, experienced God’s Amazing Grace. As the cup and the loaf are passed, please take time to remember that because Christ was obedient, our sin has been forgiven and in remission and that we have been given the best gift of all, we have been given eternal life.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 22:41:18 +0000
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