“This cup is the new covenant between God and His people – an agreement confirmed by my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” – 1 Cor 11:25
By: Amanda Daniels
Do you feel afraid, lonely, confused, or anxious? Are you desperately searching for joy and peace in the middle of chaos and suffering?
The Bible tells us that we have an enemy whose purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy us. But that Jesus came to give us a rich and satisfying life.
What good is a gift not yet received? Or a gift forgotten?
During the early weeks of the COVID quarantine, a friend casually mentioned that she was taking Communion each day with the Lord.
Curious, I began studying the scriptures in search of a deeper understanding of Communion.
Every morning, I eagerly showed up for an intimate time with Jesus. Wanting to make it special, I placed a cracker on a fancy saucer and poured grape juice into a silver goblet. As I read the scriptures out loud, I thanked God for my many blessings, and I ate the bread of life and drank the blood of Jesus while intentionally remembering His love and faithfulness.
I imagined myself around the Passover table with Jesus and His disciples. I thought about His life and tried to empathize with His suffering – not just that which began on the cross but the suffering that began the moment He left Heaven and came to dwell among us in this broken world.
Each time we met, He revealed a little more of His love, grace, forgiveness, peace, and joy. I was walking on sunshine, so to speak, more confident and courageous than ever. And I distinctly remember saying out loud, “Wow, I now know EXACTLY what to do the next time a storm rolls in!”
I, of course, had no idea that the worst, most deadly, squall of our lives was already forming and headed our way. He, of course, knew exactly what was coming, and He had prepared me to overcome it. He had taught me His truth. Now all I needed to do was remember it.
Memory enables us to recall, recollect, or be mindful of something that we have seen, heard, or experienced. While time, repetition, and emotion all contribute to what we remember, some mystery remains. Most of us would agree there are things that we cannot remember and other things that we cannot forget.
Studies confirm that we are hardwired to far more likely remember bad things like harmful insults and trauma as opposed to good things like compliments and peace. In fact, research proves that it takes anywhere from 3 to 12 positive comments or experiences to offset one negative.
A negative bias often triggers spiritual amnesia. Like a viral epidemic, spiritual amnesia attacks by stealing the peace and joy of truth and replacing it with the fear and loneliness of deception. This non-discriminating, invisible, enemy knows no boundaries and targets all ages, genders, races, and socio-economic groups.
We are most vulnerable when we are too busy, too distracted, or too complacent and forget the truth of whose we are and what Jesus did for us on the cross.
Left untreated, spiritual amnesia spreads like a cold that turns into pneumonia. Inadequate remedies, substance ventilators, and counterfeit voices of truth temporarily numb the pain of the symptoms of anxiety and depression while metastasizing into the soul.
Thankfully, there is a cure. Remembering Jesus is the spiritual resuscitation that saves us!
After three years teaching, healing, feeding, casting out demons, walking on water, and calming storms, Jesus lovingly washed His disciple’s dirty feet and sat down with them to share and celebrate the Passover meal (instituted to remind God’s people of their former slavery and to commemorate His rescue and deliverance).
“On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, ‘This is my body, which is given (broken) for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and His people – an agreement confirmed by my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.’” 1 Cor. 11:23-25
Jesus told them – and He tells us – to set aside some time to remember Him because He knows that things in this world are going to tempt us to believe the accuser and deceiver. Things are going to look, sound, and feel out of control.
The truth sets us free. But we must remember it!
There is Power in Communion
Wednesday mornings beginning September 6, 2023
10:00AM-12:00NOON EST | KGM OFFICES IN CARY, NC
STUDY IS FREE, BUT YOU MUST REGISTER | LIMIT 8
UNAFRAID
JOSHUA 1:9
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
September 8-10, 2023
OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT ON A DEEPER LEVEL
FOR MOMS AND DAUGHTERS 6TH – 12TH GRADE
CAMP WILLOW SPRINGS – LAKE GASTON, NC
Little Strength, Big God
Speaker: Debbie Wilson
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2023