1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-26
July - 20
TAKING CHRIST “IN”
“Take and eat; this is my body.” . . . “Drink . . . . This is my blood of the covenant.” Matthew 26:26-28
There is a picture offered at the communion table. The picture is that if you participate in communion, you are in some way “taking Christ in” and making him a part of you. The very idea of symbolically “eating and drinking” the body and blood of Christ says something about being united with him. “Christ in us” provides the nourishment to live and grow in our relationship with God.
There is mystery here, of course, and different churches have taught different things about participating in Christ’s body and blood. Although it’s good to be aware of those differences, we need to know that God wants more from us than having a right theology on the details of the process. God wants us to experience being connected to him. Since that happens through Jesus, God calls us at the communion table to be “united with Christ.” When our spirits are united with Christ’s Spirit, the fight against sin takes on a whole new dimension.
Of course, physically taking the bread and wine inside us is not what makes the difference. It’s having the faith that reaches out to God and receives Christ. And in that process we discover something important. “We, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” Communion connects me with Christ—and with other members of his body. One Lord; one faith; one body. It’s what God made us for.
PRAYER
Lord, at times we mistake what you intend. Help us to know your call to communion as an invitation to union with Christ and with your people. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
圣餐桌让我们看到一个事实，我们若领受圣餐，「基督就在我们里面」，祂已成为我们身体一部分了。我们「吃喝」祂的身体和血，象征了我们与祂合而为一，既有「基督在我们里面」，我们便得到滋养，来活出和促进与神的关系。
当然，这件事是一个奥秘，而对如何领受基督的身体和血，不同的教会有不同的教导。认识这些不同的看法固然好，但神对我们的要求，超越我们明白其中的神学细节。神要求我们经历与祂联合，我们既需要借着耶稣才能联合，神因此吩咐我们，要在圣餐桌前「与基督合而为一」。当我们的灵与基督的灵合而为一时，我们与罪恶的争战便进入一个崭新的层面了。
当然，口里吃喝饼和酒不能改变甚么，带来改变的乃是求告神和接受基督的信心。在这过程中，我们明白了一个重要的道理，「我们虽多，仍是…一个身体，因为我们都是分受这一个饼。」借着圣餐，我与基督、并祂身体中的其他肢体，连在一起，一主、一信、一体，而神造我们正是为此。
祷告
主啊，有时我们误解了祢的旨意；求祢帮助我们明白，吩咐我们领受圣餐，是为了要邀请我们与基督和与的子民合而为一。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。