Life #19 - Tangible Life Provisions

Christians worldwide receive communion in the form of a round wafer or piece of bread. We do so to remember what Christ did for us (Luke 22:19).

Jesus spoke about the children of Israel, who ate of the heavenly bread God provided in the desert—yet they still died. Christ compared his body to bread, which also came down from heaven. But this time, his body would serve as God’s heavenly provision to the church—that Christians may have life and not die (John 6:50).

A number of us, however, have received the Lord’s body and blood unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:27-31 NIV):

“For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 11:29, 30 NIV).

The Bread of Life, Jesus, was meant to keep the church in life. But, that provision is dependent upon our self-examination. Thus, the body and blood of the Lord works as a two-edged sword for Christians: we will have life and not die—or get weak, sick, and “fall asleep”. The choice to choose carefully is ours—always.

Yet, life is what God intended for the human race from the very beginning. Although Adam lost it all for us, Jesus restored it. Christ gave us a tangible way to receive his life and not die—through the passing of the cup and the breaking of bread.

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Scripture quotations from King James Version (KJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.