I was so busy at the end of last week picking up Drew from the airport, that I just realized I forgot to post my blog about week three of the Galatians study. Oops!
This week I've had the verse from Psalms 119:32 running over and over in my mind: "I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding." As I read Paul's illustration regarding the story of Sarah and Hagar again, I could not help but be thankful for being freed from my own works by the work of Christ on the Cross. I can only keep myself in bondage. Often we think of bondage as things like addictions and other weaknesses or sins that we commit. However, religion fosters a unique bondage as well. Keeping rules, trying to be justified by what we do, or how we look, is confining and uncomfortable like walking a tight-rope; we always have to be worried about falling off. Freedom in Christ gives us room to run safely! Hallelujah!
I've been watching for your post... LOL
ReplyDeleteOnly in the past 2 years have I discovered the true meaning of "Freedom in Christ"! I won't say that all the previous years of my "service" to God were in vain, I know they weren't. However, I will admit that the bondage of religion had me bound up tight!!!! I had secret fears that if I didn't do this or that or perform a certain way that I would be punished or something bad might happen.
How wonderful it is to walk in complete freedom!!! Thank You, Jesus!!
I am so thankful that I was able to grow up in a church that actively seeks freedom in christ. It has saved me from so much bondage. Thank you so much for following God's heart! Your influence has helped me grow into who I am today. I appreciate you and Drew so very much.
ReplyDeleteI do have one question...
Could communion be considered a religious act? What makes that practice any different from what the Jews do? Why do we need to continue taking communion when the Christ we are "remembering" lives inside us and has a personal relationship with us? We are daily living in the freedom that the cross gave us. Who does this act serve? Is it for us or is it for God?
We're so glad to have you with us, too. It excites me to watch the purposes of God unfolding in your life day-by-day.
DeleteI think you have a good question about communion. In many denominations it has become no more than a religious act. If we aren't careful, it will be no more than that for us as well. The truth is, communion is more than remembering--it is a way we have to consciously come into agreement with all that God has provided for us when Christ embraced the death on the cross.
When He instructed the disciples to "do this in remembrance of me" it was not just so they could remember that meal with him. He was providing something tangible that they could use as access points to His provision. Paul said this very clearly in his instructions regarding communion to the church at Corinth in 1 Cor. 11:23-25: For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
In the verses that follow this, Paul talks about those who did not correctly discern the Lord's Body when they partook, who were sick and dying.
We drink the cup because it reminds us to appropriate all that the Blood of Jesus has provided for us. Not only initial salvation, but sanctification, deliverance, protection, renewal, and that overall abundant life He provides. We eat the bread because it reminds us to appropriate the healing He provided when His Body was broken.
Just as Abraham said "Yes, Lord" and it was accounted to him as righteousness, communion is one way we can say "Yes, Lord" to all that Christ has provided for us. The act of communion is for us. It is a point of appropriation we should never take for granted.
Good question.