Spiritual Alzheimers - Part 5

We have made it plain that as sinners we are a forgetful people. Like the Israelites in the OT, we fail to remember how God has been exceedingly faithful to us in past. Since this is the case, is it any big mystery that God gives us an intentional and repetitive activity in the Lord’s Supper to remember the gospel and to remember the cross?

In fact, he commands it us to do this.

DO THIS!!!

Jesus gave many commands in various settings, but only once or twice did he say “Do this...”. It’s kind of hard to interpret that away. If you are a Christian, you need to obey this command! It's important to remember though that this isn’t because Jesus wants to heap up another repetitive ritual in your life. It’s so you don’t die from spiritual Alzheimer's disease. It’s for your good and for your joy!

At our church we have a special service once a month on a Wednesday night dedicated to the Lord's Supper. Sometimes it grieves me that this service is not overflowing with the same numbers that we have on Sunday morning.

There are various reasons for this. Some are good reasons and some are not. Some get off work late or have other valid reasons for not being able to make it. But some people are just being lazy and don't want to show for another meeting at church. I can understand how people can sometimes feel that way. But if you fall into the "lazy" category, I can promise you that staying home and watching another episode of American Idol or Lost is not going to bless you and fuel your faith like coming together with your brothers and sisters and remembering the fact that you were lost and in need of a Savior and God saved you through the cross and resurrection.

Believe God when he tells you what to do! He made you, he knows your deepest needs, and he is your Father. Trust him and do what he says.

When we fail to trust God and obey him it's kind of like my six-year-old son questioning me when I tell him to do something. He is a big boy now in kindergarten and sometimes he is getting a little big for his britches. He can do some math and he can read some books. He thinks he is big time. Sometimes, (not often) I can see him thinking, "Can Dad really know what he is talking about?" when I ask him to do something.

I have to remind him that I know what it's like to be 6 and he doesn't know what it's like to be 33. There is a huge experience gap between him and I. And furthermore, I love him and want what is best for him. When he questions me, he doesn't know what he is doing. He thinks he knows, but he doesn't recognize how little he actually knows.

How much more is this the case between an all-knowing and all-loving God and us his children?
When Jesus tells us to "Do this in remembrance of me", we should not question him, but should do it with joy knowing that our Father loves us and knows what is best for us.

Let's fight our spiritual Alzheimers by going to the His table together.