Do you ever experience anxiety before taking
communion? Maybe you’re feeling like your problems or faults aren’t worthy of
forgiveness. Communion uses bread as a symbol for Jesus’ broken body on the
cross and wine (or grape juice in some faiths) as a symbol for His blood. Communion
is a form of gratitude. The account of when Jesus instituted this ordinance of
communion is given in Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-20, and 1
Corinthians 11:24-26.
Jesus started the tradition of communion. He instructed His followers to use bread and wine to remember the sacrifice He was going to make when He died for our sins on the cross. Jesus called Himself “the bread of life,” which means that we’re nourished by Him, we survive because of Him, and He satisfies us when everything else leaves us empty. There’s a connection between our nearness to Jesus, believing in Him, and being fulfilled by Him.
Taking communion
doesn’t make you a Christian. It doesn’t save your soul or get you to Heaven. God
actually warns us about taking communion without considering what it means and
why we’re doing it. The intent is not for us to mindlessly perform a ritual,
but to intentionally set aside time to remember what Jesus has done, and why He
did it. Before taking communion don’t
question whether or not you are good enough.
Avoid the urge to compare yourself with others and don’t
allow feelings of inadequacy to rob you of your joy. Ask yourself if you are
willing to request forgiveness (if it’s needed). The personal act of communion
provides an individual with the opportunity to combat personal struggles,
identify how God can guide them into the right direction, and confess sins. Communion is not an
obligation, but a celebration. Communion
offers a sacred time for Christians to find peace within one’s self and life in
general.
“Holy communion is offered to all, as surely as the
living Jesus Christ is for all, as surely as all of us are not divided in him,
but belong together as brothers and sisters, all of us poor sinners, all of us
rich through his mercy. Amen.” (Karl Barth)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“10 Things to Know about Taking Communion” Sam
Storms
·
“5 Things to Know About Taking Communion” By Angela Guzman
·
“What is Communion and why do we do it?” by Newspring
Church
This topic was suggested
by my wife.
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