23 November, 2024

Eucharist

by | 16 December, 2016 | 0 comments

By Daniel Schantz

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4, New King James Version).

Eucharist is a term for the Lord”s Supper that means “to give thanks.” Giving thanks is something like a digital password to the presence of God, perhaps because it represents humility. When someone does something wonderful for me, I must acknowledge it before I do anything else.

2communion2_JNImagine you are attending a Super Bowl. You have good seats and the stands are full. The game is a nail-bitter to the end, but whenever there is a touchdown, no one stands, cheers, or even applauds. You look around and see spectators sleeping and reading books. Women are doing cross-stitch and children are playing board games. One man is watching birds through his binoculars, and another is enjoying the soaps on his portable TV. When the game is over, the fans shuffle quietly out of the stadium and head for their cars.

What a nightmare!

It”s just as unthinkable when we, who have received so much from God, fail to applaud him for such wonders as keeping the planets in orbit and the oceans in bounds, and for gravity that holds us to the earth. For providing us with an endless supply of delicious food and for providing fuel for our cars. For giving us beautiful children, plus dedicated wives and husbands. Most of all, for making a way for us to escape a dying planet on the wings of resurrection.

Thank you, Lord, for coming here in person, so we could see for ourselves that you are a compassionate person. Thank you for putting up with unspeakable pain, so we could enjoy a Heaven, free from pain.

Thank you for bearing with public shame, so we can hold our heads up high.

Thank you for coming out of the grave and blazing a trail to a place where there are no cemeteries.

Thank you for the promise that you will be back, this time to rescue us from this dark world and to take us to a land of endless light.

Thank you for beating the devil in the Super Bowl of life.

We eat this bread and drink this cup with thanksgiving.

________

Daniel Schantz is a professor emeritus of Central Christian College of the Bible, Moberly, Missouri.

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