Communion: Giving Thanks and Sharing in Christ
This devotional reflection explores the Lord’s Supper as Communion—an experience marked by gratitude, soul-searching, and forgiveness through Christ. It emphasizes that the bread and cup are more than symbols, pointing to shared blessing in Jesus’ death. It also highlights Communion’s bond-forming power among brothers and sisters.
- Communion should awaken deep gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice and the gift of salvation.
- It is a personal time of honest confession and receiving cleansing and forgiveness.
- Communion also strengthens unity as believers share this sacrament together.
By Lonetta McKee
The Meaning of Communion
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated by Christians all over the world. This is frequently referred to as Communion and it signifies a special time in our worship service. In the context of gathering around the Lord’s table, Communion has a very deep and rich meaning.
The English word communion is derived from the Greek word “to give thanks.” This would indicate a crucial part of our Communion experience should be an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. It also highlights the importance of striving to reach beyond our human limitations in our thanks as we acknowledge the sacrifice Jesus made in giving us the marvelous gift of salvation and forgiveness of sins.
The dictionary definition of communion is “the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.” So this becomes an occasion for intense soul searching as we, without reservation, share with our Savior our innermost thoughts. Sincerely asking for forgiveness requires we honestly recognize each sin and open our hearts to admitting even our most shameful and humiliating transgressions.
As the definition of the word implies, this is a very personal time of giving and receiving. The giving is disclosing even the most hidden and secret contents of our minds to the Savior. The assurance of complete cleansing and forgiveness is what we in turn receive from him.
The Bread and Cup: Shared Blessing
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:16 (King James Version), “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ” The bread and the cup are much more than symbols. They are points of blessings and shared experience in Christ’s death.
This deep and profound communion, however, extends beyond that with Christ. As we participate in this sacrament with our brothers and sisters we are establishing a close bond. In a corporate setting we each encounter on a personal level the unfathomable compassion of the Lord’s heart as we are immersed in his intimate love.
Lonetta McKee is a Christian writer living in Los Angeles, Calif. She blogs at “Living Before God’s Face” (livingbeforegodsface.com).
