This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:9-10). Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me (Revelation 3:20).Reflection
What are the words you most long to hear?
That depends on what is going on in your life at the moment, I suppose. When polled, however, people had a remarkable consistency to their answers. Philip Yancey, in his book Vanishing Grace, remembers a survey where the people polled gave two very predictable answers to this question, and then a surprising third one:
- I love you.
- I forgive you.
- Supper’s ready.
As we approach the Lord’s Table, what happens for us as believers is beyond bread and wine. We not only remember what Jesus did, but we also remember why he did it. And, if we listen with our hearts, we also hear his invitation to join him at the Table of his grace to celebrate our life with him and anticipate a greater supper that awaits in the presence of God. The bread we break and the drink we take allow us to hear our Lord Jesus say to us, “I love you. I forgive you. Supper’s ready.” In fact, he promises to meet us at this meal and share in it with us if we accept his invitation (Revelation 3:20).
As we share the Lord’s Supper, let’s listen to the life of Jesus from his incarnation to his resurrection. Let's be touched by his great love for us (John 3:16-17). Let’s hear his declaration of forgiveness at the cross (Luke 23:34; Romans 5:6-11). Let's be moved by the perfection we are given by his body sacrificed for us (Colossians 1:21-22). And, as the bread is broken and as the cup is shared, let’s hear the Lord’s invitation to join him in his grace because supper’s ready (Luke 22:15-17; Revelation 3:20)!
Prayer for the Bread:
O loving Father, thank you. I know those two words are so inadequate, but please know that they are true. Thank you for all that love led Jesus to do for me. We see this bread as a tangible reminder of the cost of your loving forgiveness and grace. Thank you, Jesus, for saying to each of us, “I love you this much,” then spreading out your arms on the cross and dying to destroy the power of hell, death, and Satan. Thank you. Amen. Prayer for the Cup:
Eternal God and loving Savior, thank you for inviting me, and all those with me, to this simple meal. We view our invitation to share in the Lord's Supper as an invitation to an even greater feast that awaits us on Jesus' return. Thank you for such a glorious future. In Jesus’ name, I thank you. Amen.
