December 19, 2022
Traveling by Starlight
Ignatius wrote words about a birth on his way to his death . . .
Series: Communion Meditations
December 12, 2022
Have You Seen Me?
On December 24, 1961, a cartoonist at the Louisville Courier-Journal, Hugh Haynie, published a cartoon that has been repeated in that newspaper on Christmas Eve ever since. . . .
December 5, 2022
Your Picture on His Tree
Some evening when you are looking at your beautiful Christmas tree, think about another kind of tree mentioned in Scripture in a passage where Paul described the impact of Jesus’ death. . . .
November 28, 2022
Showing Up
Communion reminds us of a beautiful part of the Christmas story. . . .
November 21, 2022
Observing Back Sunday
These days, Black Friday seems to get more attention than Thanksgiving! . . . Perhaps we should consider making every Sunday “Back Sunday,” especially when we partake of Communion.
November 14, 2022
Thanksgiving in All Circumstances
This time of year is always festive. Spirits seem a little brighter and thanksgiving flows freely in our hearts. Or does it?
November 7, 2022
Focused on Christ
By Lee Magness Many of us call the meal “the Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20), but the Greek word translated “Lord’s” is not a possessive noun, but a descriptive adjective. Although the meal does belong to the Lord (Jesus inaugurated the meal, is present in the meal, presides at the meal, etc.), Paul was emphasizing that the meal is characterized by the Lord. It is the Lordly Supper. In every way it is focused on him—past, present, and future. The meal is a remembrance of Jesus past, not just a memorial of the meal he instituted, but a recollection of
October 31, 2022
My Deliverer
How do you respond when you face difficulties, dangers, or disease? What would you do if you were “canceled” or faced persecution because of your faith in Jesus?
October 24, 2022
What to Wear?
(We first ran this Communion meditation in January 2014.) By Ronald G. Davis “What to wear? What to wear?” Millions of Americans echo that question, as seasons change, as holidays and holy days loom. “Should it be the floral print?” “Perhaps little Susie would look good in pink?” “Is it a white shirt and tie day or maybe just a striped henley?” Whatever the answer, for many that is a significant issue. Christians need not ask the question. We have other, more significant truth to ponder and celebrate. Long ago, God answered the question through the pen of Isaiah. Isaiah
October 17, 2022
Judas at the Table
(We first ran this Communion meditation in October 2016.) By Ronald G. Davis Because of varying details in the four Gospel accounts, scholars disagree over whether Judas was still present in the upper room when Jesus called for a new bread-and-cup occasion, a new Passover meaning. But we know Judas was there long enough to be given one last, gracious opportunity to repent (see John 13:18-30). When Jesus said, “The one to whom I will give . . . ,” it was Judas’s fingers and thumb that grasped the sop, a grasping motion that characterized his lifestyle controlled by greed,
October 10, 2022
Paul at the Table
(We first ran this Communion meditation in January 2014.) By Ronald G. Davis Paul wrote beautifully and authoritatively of the Lord’s table. But he also sat there. Right across from us, as it were. Was he worthy? Are we? Both he and we are worthy in the gracious eyes of the Lord who invited us here. Paul certainly had sins when he sat here. His tears of repentance were not for imagined occasions he “missed the mark” of God’s righteousness. No doubt, there were occasions at the table he thought about Stephen, the young evangelist, at whose stoning death he
October 3, 2022
Sangre de Cristo
(We first ran this Communion meditation in January 2014.) By Ronald G. Davis In the 16th century, Francisco Coronado and a group of Spanish soldiers explored the American Southwest, looking for golden cities! A priest accompanied them to carry God’s blessing and protection. When they reached the source of the Rio Grande River in what is now central Colorado, as the traditional story is told, that priest was mortally wounded by Native Americans defending their independence. As he lay dying in the Spaniards’ escape southward, he saw a glorious sunset on newly snowcapped peaks. “Sangre de Cristo! Sangre de Cristo!”
September 26, 2022
Day of Atonement, Day of Remembrance
By Doug Redford If the Israelites of the Old Testament had the books that we have in our Old Testament, arranged into chapters as ours is, Leviticus 16 would have drawn their attention as the Day of Atonement neared much as Luke 2 gets our attention during the Christmas season. There we see outlined the proper procedure for observing that sacred day, which came to be known as Yom Kippur, literally the “day of covering.” The Jewish people will observe it this year on October 4 and 5. The final verse of Leviticus 16 captures the day’s significance: “Atonement is
September 19, 2022
Blood-Stained Hands
We gather at this time to remember the Son of David—Jesus—who died with blood-stained hands. They were not stained from the battles against flesh-and-blood sinners . . .
September 12, 2022
Every Time
As with track runners, we Christians also have a finish line upon which we focus.
September 5, 2022
No Tourniquet Required
That the outpouring of Jesus’ blood was not halted on Calvary meant death for him . . . but life for us.
August 29, 2022
His Hands and Ours
When we take Communion, we hold in our hands the reminders of the price Jesus paid to save us from sin.
August 22, 2022
Always in His Arms
Immediately after describing the coming Messiah as someone who would rule with power and a mighty arm (Isaiah 40:10), the prophet’s imagery changed dramatically: “He tends his flock like a shepherd . . ."
August 15, 2022
A School Like No Other
Scripture says Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).
August 8, 2022
Enough
Have you ever heard someone say there are many ways to Heaven and that Christians are narrow-minded to think Jesus is the only way? God’s Word is unambiguous and unequivocal about this topic. . . .
