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.

Behold and Be Bold

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].  Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)

What an on-time God we serve! It’s no small thing to think of how He meets needs with a word from Scripture. Just when anxiety creeps in and diminishes your confidence, if you are engaging in His Word, He answers with His perfect message. He sees you! He hears you! He cares for you! He is so good. He is so faithful.

I’ve a restorative story to tell those who need encouragement. It’s a story of God’s redeeming love. Though trials beset my life with a prodigal daughter, she came to her senses and “returned home” to the God that loves her so. While I waited for her return, God taught me about His character, replete with His promises from Scripture. He supplied me with strength and comfort for which I am eternally grateful. 

But I had allowed time to fade some of my memories until I was asked to give my testimony live on a local television station. Then doubts filled my mind. “I’m not capable,” I said to God. 

And I heard God say to Moses from the fourth chapter of Exodus, “Who has made man’s mouth? Is it not I, the Lord?”

Humbled but with boldness, I told the Lord of my fear, and He answered with His Word from John 14:26. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Memories flooded my mind and I echoed what He had taught me. I remembered what He had done for me and my daughter. Boldly I proclaimed His power to all those who would listen. All glory to God through Jesus Christ who brought both my daughter and me out of darkness into His glorious light. From bringing home captives in Isaiah 43:5-7 to praying persistently in Luke 18:1, God caused me to remember His goodness. He is so faithful. 

What’s your story? How has God made Himself known to you? Which of His characteristics most resonate with you? If He is a new acquaintance to you, allow Him to help write your story. If you have walked with Him and continue to walk with Him, tell your story. There are many ears that need to hear of the goodness of our loving God. 

Maybe the lyrics of H. Ernest Nichol (1896) will inspire you to boldly go before God’s throne of grace and find the help you need to share the good news of Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world with family, friends, and even strangers.

We've a story to tell to the nations,

that shall turn their hearts to the right,

a story of truth and mercy,

a story of peace and light,

a story of peace and light.

Refrain:

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,

and the dawning to noonday bright,

and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,

the kingdom of love and light.

We've a song to be sung to the nations,

that shall lift their hearts to the Lord,

a song that shall conquer evil,

and shatter the spear and sword,

and shatter the spear and sword. [Refrain]

We've a message to give to the nations,

that the Lord who reighth above

has sent us His Son to save us,

and show us that God is love,

and show us that God is love. [Refrain]

We've a Savior to show to the nations,

who the path of sorrow has trod,

that all of the world's great peoples

may come to the truth of God,

may come to the truth of God! [Refrain]

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