“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the body of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16)
Have you ever had a garage sale? They can be a lot of work. If you’re moving or ready to get rid of a lot of things, you price things to go. You don’t value them that high. But then, there’s that wall hanging that great aunt Hilda gave you. You’ve had it since you were ten. You know it should probably go, but, you’re reluctant, so you put a high price on it. If you’ve had a garage sale, you do all kinds of valuating. How much is something worth… to you? To someone else?
Well, how much are YOU worth? No, not your net worth, your real worth. It might be easy to determine our value in life based on who we are, what we’ve done, what we’ve accomplished, etc. But when we’re serious with ourselves, how much of our life have we spent in selfishness? Thought ourselves to be better than others? Entertained sinful thoughts? Been prideful or arrogant? If we look inside ourselves for value, we’ll soon discover a sobering truth: we’re sinful and the only thing we’re worthy of is eternal death.
But that’s what makes the Lord’s Supper so surprising and mind-boggling! To people who are worthy of nothing good, in His grace, God gives the ultimate good! God gives His own Son to die on the cross for our unworthiness and cleanse us from our sins by His own blood! Jesus, the Son of God, spent His blood to purchase and win you! And then…in the Lord’s Supper God gives you not just a sign or a symbol, but in a wonderfully miraculous way Jesus’ own true body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins! He gives you Jesus Himself personally and individually – it means you! He gives you Jesus true body and blood in your own body for the salvation of your whole self- body and soul. He gives you Jesus repeatedly every time you receive the Supper you receive forgiveness and strength for your faith!
How much are you worth? To God you’re worth the very body and blood of Jesus, which He gives you in the Lord’s Supper!
And that makes you priceless to God!
Thankful to receive Jesus own body and blood with bread and wine in the Supper, just like you,
pastor