Communion of Saints

JJ

We left our seats and gathered in the center aisle. One by one, with piety and purpose, we moved forward to the communion table, ladened with sins and burdens, visible only to God. Would Jesus’ message, spoken to us through the words of the pastor, remain in our hearts and minds, not only on Sunday, but for the rest of the week?

With repentance and bold humility, God’s sinful people seek His forgiveness and reconciliation through the sacrifice of Jesus, God’s beloved and righteous Son. The exchange happened at the cross as Jesus Christ took upon Himself our unrighteousness while offering us His righteousness. The same substitution occurs today when we repent and confess our sins to God through Jesus who lavishes us with loving forgiveness and gracious mercy. Oh the grace—God’s riches at Christ’s expense—of God that frees us from our personal prisons of transgressions. 

I approached the table, offering my sinful self to my Savior. The server gave me a piece of bread saying, “The body of Christ broken for you.” With my right hand I grasped the bread and placed my cupped left hand underneath. As I dipped the bread in the cup of wine, a second server’s words “the blood of Christ shed for you” pierced my ears. When I placed that bread, now Christ’s body, in my mouth, some of the wine, now Christ’s blood, splattered into the palm of my hand. 

The spatter onto my hand ignited a burning within my soul. It’s as if I stood under the cross with Jesus impaled upon it while His blood dripped onto me. I consumed His blood soaked body, carried the wine droplet back to my seat, and sat down. While rubbing my hands together and wiping away the wine, an abrupt thought entered my mind. I have blood on my hands and yet, I know Jesus loves me.

Jesus loves me, even though my sins crucified Him. He stood in my place, carrying the weight of my wretched sin and shame to the cross. He hears my confession and says, “Daughter, you are forgiven. My righteousness covers you with mercy.” 

I am humbled by one drop of blood and stand in awe of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. He chose me to be His child, not because of my goodness, but because of His mercy. 

Blanketed by His righteous and merciful grace, Jesus’ sacrifice covers my sin and yours as well. When we repent and believe in Jesus, we are saved. God sees us through Jesus’ righteousness. And Holy Spirit enables me to please God through obedience to His Living Word, Jesus Christ. 

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16 (TLB)

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your love that established peace through the blood of the cross of your own Son, Jesus. What an offering of sacrificial devotion! I am forgiven and free. Uphold me, Lord God, with your righteous right hand forever. In the mighty name of Jesus, AMEN. 

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.         Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV)                                              

                                                                                   S.D.G.

*JJ Jesu Juva (Jesus help) and S.D.G. Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be Glory) — Johann Sebastian Bach wrote these letters on his pages before he began and when he ended composing his music. He gave God the glory after pleading for his help.

The Stain of Sin

Have mercy on me, O God,

because of your unfailing love.

Because of your great compassion,

    blot out the stain of my sins.

Wash me clean from my guilt.

    Purify me from my sin. 

Psalm 51:1-2 (NLT)

“Out, damn’d spot,” said Lady Macbeth, while she furiously rubbed her hands as if washing them. 

The stain of blood and guilt wracked the consciences of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Their desire for more power escalated into murder. Macbeth seized the throne of Scotland after killing King Duncan. And both Macbeth and his wife were left with incessant remorse. 

Shakespeare wrote bits of history into his plays. And his characters exuded the human spirit of intellect, emotion, fear, passion, creativity, love, and iniquity. Readers have had no problem relating to various characters in Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies. After all, they resemble real people. 

The stain Lady Macbeth tried to purge came to mind as I read Psalm 51, David’s psalm of confession and repentance. Honest, gut-wrenching self-analysis had me confessing like David. While I had chosen to diagnose the shortcomings of others, God had pinpointed my personal sin of bitterness. Words of the psalm spoke loud and clear—blot out the stain of my sin. It’s hard to admit to sinning, but being reminded of its stain stung.

King David wrote this psalm after being confronted with his own sin. God had spoken through the prophet Nathan to discipline David, after he had committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). When he completely understood the shame of his sin, David humbly asked God to have mercy on him, a sinner. He repented and asked for removal of the stain of his guilt. “Give me joy again. Create in me a clean heart,” he pleaded to God. 

Like David, I began to ask God to remove the stain of my own sin and guilt. Uncovering the offenses of bitterness and malice had stunned me. Those vices belonged to other people, not me. When I finally admitted my misdeeds, I stood ashamed before a holy God. I cried out for His mercy and forgiveness. And my Heavenly Father lavishly gave me those gifts, wrapped in His unfailing love. Encountering the discipline of a loving and gracious Father God freed my soul. I experienced joy. 

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”

…he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 

Hebrews 12:5b-6, 10b-11 (ESV)

No one wants personal sin exposed. How humiliating. But when God reveals our wrongdoings, it’s humbling. His loving discipline declares His holiness and our sinfulness. When we repent and turn from sin, God has mercy on us and forgives us. He delivers us from evil and creates within us a desire for righteousness. What freedom! 

Ever felt guilt from sin? How about its ugly stain? Torment develops in the pit of your stomach. Shame results until an encounter with the liberating discipline of a God who loves you. A captive soul is set free. 

The joy of the Lord erases the stain of sin. 

“We can never be cleansed until we confess we are dirty.  ”

— ~Max Lucado