Last month Silas wrote a devotional about communion. It closed with a stanza of Claire Cloninger’s hymn “Come to the table of mercy.”

That reminded me of the many times I communed in the church where I was raised. We often sang hymns during communion. Strangely, I think more of my understanding of communion came through those hymns than from any formal teaching. One hymn that sticks in my mind Is “Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face.”

Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;
here would we touch and handle things unseen;
here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace
and all my weariness upon Thee lean.

What a wonder to come before the Holy One in such an intimate way, to touch and handle things unseen, the seen bread and wine, the unseen body and blood of the Savior. Here. 

From the very beginning of church the Supper of the Lord was the central act of worship. For almost 2,000 years believer have come to the table of mercy to receive forgiveness, to be strengthened in grace, to be united with each other, and to give thanks.

I believe that Christians do many good works that help people get through life. We should do those things. But I also believe we need the personal connection with God that comes in Communion or we would quickly weaken and fail in our mission.

Here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong
the brief, bright hour of fellowship with Thee.

Read 1 Corinthians 10:16 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne