I almost didn’t eat it. Bread and juice are not on my list of approved 7 foods. I hadn’t even thought about having to take communion this month during our fast until my husband was up on stage, praying for the elements before they were passed.
I had very little time. The plate would be passed to me first…sitting on the edge of the front row. Would I take it? Would I just pass it on? I opened my eyes, and there it was in front of me.
"Just take it," went through my mind, so I grabbed a little piece of bread and a cup and passed it on. Okay. Now what? I’m holding it. Staring at it. THESE ARE NOT ON MY LIST! My head is shouting. Why did I grab some? Quit panicking and pray.
"Why are you even doing the 7 fast?" I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me. I’m ridding myself of excess and making room for Jesus to invade. I long to be overflowing with gratitude and contentment for what Jesus has done for me.
"What is communion about?" the Holy Spirit nudged again. Communion, the Lord’s Supper. It’s about remembering Jesus' body and blood on the cross. Thanking Him for His sacrifice.
At the OG Lord’s supper, Jesus took two common elements, bread and wine, and used those to represent His new covenant. How powerful must it have been for the disciples at every meal after that with their bread and their wine to remember Jesus’ words!
Bread and wine were custom for every meal.
They were to consider Him always.
I wonder if there ever became a time when they forgot to remember Him while taking those elements? I know forget Him daily. I don’t have bread and wine with each meal, but that’s not an excuse. Jesus didn’t JUST mean whenever you take the bread and the cup remember Him, He meant remember Him everyday as you go about your life.
It’s crazy how 7 has forced me to remember Jesus.
Every time I pick up one of my 7 foods or turn down a forbidden food, I remember why I am doing the fast in the first place. I want to make room for Jesus in my every day life. I want Him to invade my ordinary. I want to remember Him.
My 7 foods have become like what the bread and the wine were to the disciples. It’s all I’m eating for every meal. Each taste is a little bit of Jesus transforming how I view food and excess. Each bite is overflowing with thankfulness (sometimes begrudgingly) because I got to pick my 7 foods. I like all of them. They form a balanced diet that is fueling my body and keeping me healthy. I’m not eating food I hate or food that doesn’t give proper nutrition like so many people all over this world. I am so thankful for my 7.
So, communion. The bread (which is glorious, I might add) and the juice are in my hands. And I believe I have my answer. The elements held no excess and pointed directly to my Savior. So, I partook of the elements along with my local believers. And they were so particularly precious to me for a number of reasons.
I sat content with my one bite and one sip.
Not lacking, not wanting.
How sweet it is to trust in Jesus.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
It’s been a while since communion has meant this much to me. I am overflowing with thankfulness that I have been able to remember Jesus so much more frequently. Joyful that I have such beautiful people alongside me during this fast, sharing in the gifts of the Lord, and supporting me as His Body. Excited thinking about how this is such a small glimpse of the glory of God and one day I get to experience it full measure. Wow. What a blessing I don’t deserve.
I hope you can take time to remember Jesus today. What are your favorite ways to consider Him throughout your daily life?
In grace,
Kate