What do you think about when you take part in the Christian service known as Communion? What do you remember, what is your focus? What is your spirit?

I am positive that the Lord wishes Communion to be a time of sobriety and reflection, yes, but also of rejoicing, exultation and victory.

Communion reminds us of the Lord and the agony He went through for us.

In a more symbolic way, partaking of this emblem should remind us that we are now the body of Christ. Individually and corporately we now have the mission of living the life of the Lord on this planet.

Communion reminds us of the Lord and the blood He shed for our redemption.

One of the concepts to remember in this part of the service is that blood is life. By drinking the fruit of the vine we in a sense recognize that without His blood we cannot live.

We should also remember that it is the blood of Jesus and not our own efforts that cleanses us from our sins.

Another truth to remember in this part of the service should be that every single one of us requires the blood just as much as anyone else. Thus, pride, arrogance and comparisons should find no harbor among us.

Read the rest: The Last Supper and the First Communion

Other reading: Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

And a book to consider: Doctrines of the Bible — Daniel Kauffman (also available from Christian Light Publications)