tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12676056.post114542834312660168..comments2023-10-09T09:35:28.278-07:00Comments on The LoneTomato Stand: 195. on communion (part 1)The_LoneTomatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08460131548407301707noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12676056.post-1145668213762440232006-04-21T18:10:00.000-07:002006-04-21T18:10:00.000-07:00Being a Christian is a fine balance between seekin...Being a Christian is a fine balance between seeking answers to our questions and obedience. We have to be careful no to get to a place where we can't surrender unless we get our answers first.<BR/><BR/>I take communion because Jesus said to do it. In Jewish culture, objects or rituals were often used to memorialize significant events. For example, in Joshua chapter 4, God instructed the Israelites to set up stones in rememberance of what He had done for them: <BR/>21"In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' 22 tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.'<BR/><BR/>I believe that when we obey God, it examplifies His Lordship in our lives. It is our outward manifistation of surrender. I'm reminded of this scripture in which God gave the Israelites an opportunity to be healed from snake bites simply by looking up at something. <BR/><BR/>Numbers 21:<BR/>8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.<BR/><BR/>It wasn't the the bronze object that brought healing. It was the act of looking up, which symbolized trusting God's instructions and being obedient. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps our taking communion is similar in that we can seize the opportunity to demonstrate our obedience to Jesus' instructions and our desire to receive all that He has for us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12676056.post-1145573748141240562006-04-20T15:55:00.000-07:002006-04-20T15:55:00.000-07:00Ya, I share a bit of your frustration and confusio...Ya, I share a bit of your frustration and confusion... How is communion to look for us these days? <BR/><BR/>I feel frustrated with the whole wafer or cracker and shot of grapejuice style. Is taking that with a bunch of people at the same time when told really "communion". What does "communion" mean? <BR/><BR/>Jesus and his disciples had communion by eating a full meal and hanging out together, right? And yet there is the intention part of remembering His sacrifice and the covenant He created with us. I've also read that sharing a cup of wine was what a Man would offer to do when He wanted to become betrothed to a woman, and again when the Bride and Bridegroom were first married as a sign of their covenant. The symbolism is rich and I know the issue is greater with the inner heart attitude, but how does it look and become practical for us today?<BR/><BR/>Lord bring your Wisdom.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07053068845742563949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12676056.post-1145458984175931922006-04-19T08:03:00.000-07:002006-04-19T08:03:00.000-07:00Hey R~Can I tell you I was cracking up when I read...Hey R~<BR/>Can I tell you I was cracking up when I read this? (sorry)<BR/><BR/>I guess first we have to look at it from the perspective of the people who were there during the Lord's Supper. I'm thinking that their frame of reference was based on their tradition of having to hack open helpless animals and pour out the animals blood because of the people's sins. In their minds, the animal was paying the price for their sins right? So I'd imagine in their day & age, Jesus was bringing His message home to them by contrasting what He was about to do on the cross to something that was already deeply entwined in the fabric of their culture.<BR/><BR/>The challenge then is to find a way to make this relevent in a society who not only has no frame of reference for "pouring out of blood" (except maybe the death penalty) but also doesn't really give a rip about sinning.<BR/><BR/>For me personally, I am humbled every time I take communion. I remember His body broken on the cross & His blood shed for my sins. But now that I think about it, I guess I never really questioned, "So why are we 'eating' this stuff?" <BR/><BR/>Maybe it symbolizes the fact that even as Jesus was about to pay the ultimate price for everyone, He was still so generous to the ones He loved. Up to the very last moments, He continued to care for their most basic needs. Maybe it's a reminder to us that Jesus not only paved a way to the Father upon our death, but He is also here with us today to provide for our daily needs.<BR/><BR/>I dunno...that's my 5 am ramblings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com