“Great Things for Grievous Times”
TOPIC:“The Greatest Observance of the Saint”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:I Corinthians 10:21, Phillips
“You cannot be a guest at the Lord's table and at the table of devils”
Do we Christians have time in which we can remember and thank God for what He has done for us? The answer to that question, whether we realize it or not, is found in our observance of Holy Communion. This is what James Montgomery had in mind when he wrote:
“According to Thy gracious word,
In meek humility
This will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember Thee.
Thy body, broken for my sake,
My bread from heaven shall be;
Thy testimental cup I take
And thus remember Thee.”
The Lord's Supper is without doubt the most sacred and supreme act of Christian worship. For nearly two thousand years the Christian Church has faithfully observed it. The early Apostolic Church made it a part of every worship service. We read these words in Acts: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house” (Acts 2:46).
Often we Christians are accused of having a low view of the Lord's Supper. We are accused of treating it like an unimportant addition to the worship service. We relegate it to a place of secondary importance, prepare poorly for it, rush through it and profit little from it.
Listen to me: That kind of neglect does a grave injustice to the meaning and message of this holy event. Let us come to the Lord's Table today realizing that it is the highest privilege given to any Christian.
I.
Consider, first of all, the PREPARATION which makes us ready . . .