TweetIn recent blogs, I’ve been spending a good amount of time talking about members of the early church and their devotion to Jesus. In communion, the early followers were pursuing the presence of Christ, the risen one, who is with and in us. To participate in communion was to celebrate membership in the family of God, the death of Jesus, and the forgiveness of our confessed sins.
In a final look at communion, I want to discuss how Paul calls us into an exclusive union with Jesus. In 1Corinthians 10:14-22, he tells the people to flee from idolatry by giving up their worship of many local deities and their mixed religious practices. Further, he asks them to have an exclusive relationship with Jesus by getting rid of those things that pushed him out of the throne room of their hearts. Paul uses the celebration of communion to make this point: Jesus doesn’t want any competing lovers in your life. He is calling you to an exclusive relationship with Him alone. He is calling you to a profound and holy intimacy — “union” with God. Let’s look at little deeper into this exclusive union that Jesus calls us to.
First, we read that we are united with Christ by participating in his blood. (1 Cor 10:16) Communion is to be received with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving keeps our hearts soft so they can be conditioned to receive from God. At communion, we celebrate the life of Christ and we participate in his life again. We are only invited and enter into the family of God because Jesus shed his blood. There is no other gate to enter the family of God — this is an exclusive gate. Only the blood of God in the flesh could pay for our sin. We are participating in Christ’s blood as it is only by his blood that we are forgiven. And so knowing how totally dependent we are on the blood of Christ for our redemption, when we participate in this blood it is a reminder of our exclusive call, our exclusive union, our exclusive relationship with Jesus. Jesus gave his life as the exclusive path for our redemption, we are to give him our life in return in an exclusive love affair.
The second way that we are united with Christ is by participating in his body. (1 Cor 10:16-17) There are two spiritual realities behind this truth. First, he is talking about a participation in the life of Christ. Again, the body and blood represent the life of Christ. We can try to satisfy our deepest longings with many earthly things – but they do not bring ultimate satisfaction. There is a deep hunger in every human heart that only God can satisfy. Jesus gave himself exclusively to us because he is the only one who can satisfy us. It is only just that we give ourselves exclusively to him in return. Now, this doesn’t just happen at the communion service on Sundays. This is the result of an on-going and continuous process of pursuing God.
The second spiritual reality: Paul points out that this participation in the “body of Christ” is participation in the family of God. Everyone who puts their faith in Christ is part of the family of God. We who are many are one body. We are all partaking of the bread of life, and that makes us all of the same substance. We are united with Christ by participating in his earthly family which is the church. I hear some people say, “I don’t have to go to Church to be a Christian.” You can’t go deep with God without participating in his body because to deny participating in this family is to deny the presence of Christ in others.
Finally, we are united with Christ by participating in his presence. (1 Cor. 10:18-22) Jesus is present with us in communion. When we partake of the bread and the cup, we partake in his presence. I don’t believe they mystically turn into his actual body and blood, but I do believe Christ is present with us in a real way. But this isn’t just true of communion. This is true of any spiritual practice in which we participate. Paul tells us when we participate in other religious practices, we are participating in the life of the demonic spirit behind that practice. There are a lot of people out there today saying things like, “All gods are the same. It doesn’t matter which way you go.” But, this isn’t what the Bible teaches. There is only one true God. The rest of them are created beings that try to usurp God’s throne. Jesus said the enemy came to kill, steal and destroy, and when we participate in the demonic, he will enslave us to destructive behaviors. Jesus came to set us free. He wants our exclusive love and devotion. He poured out his life for you, and now he wants your life in return. Love him wholeheartedly and exclusively. He is worthy.
Ask God, are there any competing lovers — any idols — in my life? Is there anything in my life that is competing for your affection? Is there anything competing for the throne room of my heart? If what the Lord shows you is not him, call it an idol, and flee from it. Yield the throne of your heart to God, the exclusive lover of your soul.
Hi Rob! This word could not be more timely for me. God has been calling me to lay down some significant idols at His feet for quite some time now. If I am honest…I have labored over these things…and wrestled deeply with God. I believe I have sadly even said to God on more than one occasion, “You will have to rip it from my cold dead hands…I just can’t”. But here I am again…being called (LOUDLY)….to lay these things at my Father’s feet…and “truly” give Him all my devotion. Someone said to me just yesterday…that I have a choice.. I can continue on where I am…and God will still of course love me and use me…BUT…there is a deeper destiny God has for me…and I need to make the choice. It’s true…and I know it.
The broad road is soooo beautiful….but I have learned time and time again..it leads to destruction. God gave me the “narrow road” passage 8 months ago… And yet here I am…still battling. And here God is…stillan ever so gently and patiently giving me yet another nudge. Me, His child, He wants so badly to chose Him above all else.
I am not sure how many more times I can say, “no turning back..I’m giving all of myself this time.”! Well, I say it again today…and mean it(again:)). I covet prayers, to push me through. And in your words Rob…I say to you my God, I want to love You wholeheartedly, exclusively, and with full abandon. I yield the throne my heart to you, Lord. The exclusive lover of my soul. AMEN!
Sarah!! God just used your reply to show me that He is still here! He is so good and used you to connect me with him this morning! Praise God and may he Bless you!
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Dear Sarah,
I appreciate your struggle to surrender all to Jesus. The spiritual journey is often a battle ground. A battle ground where the enemy of my soul seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. And a battle ground where I struggle to surrender, bow my stiff neck to God, and die to my self-life. When we stumble and fall, the key is to keep getting up. Keep putting my eyes back on Jesus. Keep resting in his loving presence. And then keep re-engaging in the battle to give all of me to all of Him.
Stay the course! You are on the right path. And God always rewards those who persist! May God visit you in this season of your life with a new and fresh sense of his loving presence. May He steady your feet on the path. May He encourage your heart with determination.
Blessings to you, friend.
Rob
After today’s message of Jan, 29,2012 I felt compelled and excited to hear of Rob’s description of his experience during intimate prayer with God. While at the monastery he was driven to tears in prayer and asked someone there what that was. I was happy to hear he was told he was in God’s presence — waiting and wanting to get closer to heaven. I too have experienced this on numerous occasions and as soon as I heard you describe this I knew that I knew that this was also my experience of LONGING for God’s presence and LONGING for a heaven yet to come. I am frequently in the middle of prayer or worship music only to be driven to tears and overcome with an overwhelming emotion I have not been able to describe until I heard you explain yours today. Praise be to God .