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A Communion to Remember

MonNov302009 PostedMonday, November 30, 2009 @ 11 AMByBryan PayneTaggedCommunion Gospel

During last weekend’s church service, I experienced something for the first time – communion with my 18 month old son Nathanael. He was sick and unable to go to the nursery so I took him into worship with me. As I held Nathanael in my lap, I prayed and meditated on the person and work of Jesus Christ. I was thanking the Father for crucifying His Son on my behalf when it HIT me, "Who would I be willing to kill Nathanael for!?" My mind began to race, I thought and I thought. But there was no one that I would kill Nathanael to save. As I hugged my son in my arms, my heart grieved at the thought of killing him. I pictured Nathanael beaten, bloodied, and gasping for breath. And then it hit me like a freight train running head-on into a bicycle. The Father didn’t look around the world to find people with enough value for Christ to die for. Rather, the Father sent His Son to the cross for those who were His ENEMIES…

My heart was crushed! I sat in my chair dumbfounded. I couldn’t think of a single person that I would give my son’s life for. But the thought of killing him for someone who hated me—repulsive! Yet that is exactly what the Father did. He gave His one and only Son’s life for you and me—the very people that hated Him.

I will never forget that communion. God used my deep love for Nathanael to illustrate the deepest love imaginable – His love for me. I don’t ever want to forget that lesson. Thank you, God, for your love. Thank you for crucifying Jesus Christ on my behalf, an unworthy sinner.

Do you have any communions that stand out to you? What truth did the Lord drive home in your heart?

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)"

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3 comments

On 12/1/02009 6:49 PM, Laurel Hales said... Bryan...that drove the understanding of God's sacrifice more clearly & deeply into my heart. As a parent, I felt the gasp from my mouth as you imagined sacrificing your sweet boy...but recognizing God gave Jesus for his enemies. That is a stunning picture that goes beyond my comprehension but fills me with great joy & thankfulness that He now considers me His friend & child although I have done nothing to deserve it. thank you for that post

On 1/11/02010 7:56 PM, Gina Schadt said... Hi Bryan $&$& $& $&I met you and your wife and your precious son in Davenport after service. We spoke about our shared excitment of Harvest coming to Austin, my home town and how happy I was to know that I would be able to continue my walk with Christ in a church I am passionate about when I return to Texas. $& $&$& $& $&I had to respond to your feelings during communion with your son. Last summer it hit me, How could he sacrifice his own son for us. It absolutely humbled me that our God could LOVE us to that degree. I turned my heart over to Jesus at that moment and my heart continues to overflow with love.$& $&$& $& $&My favorite quote from this weeks service was, "be who you are in Christ!"$& $&$& $& $&warmly,$& $&Gina$&

On 3/23/02010 10:08 PM, Jeremy Sanchez said... This is so totally humbling. How God's love compelled Him to do something so drastic to save someone who has offended His holiness to a degree beyond measure. I don't know exactly how to articulate it to my children yet, I guess that's the Holy Spirit's job, but I always tell them "SOMEONE had to pay for it" praying that the sacrifice & substitution Jesus made will touch the depths of their hearts when they come to understand the realities of justice/Justification ! Looking forward to your arrival to A,TX.