ODJ: broken for tim?

November 2, 2014 

READ: Luke 22:14-20 

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you” (v.19).

While away from home on a lengthy work assignment, I attended a church quite different from my one back home. For instance, my adopted church observed communion (the Lord’s Supper) every time they met. Instead of the pastor or elders serving, ordinary members of the church shared responsibility for distributing the bread and wine.

On several occasions the lead elder asked me to assist with communion. My duty was simply to break off pieces of bread and give them to people as they came to the front. As each person took his piece, I was to say, “The body of Christ, broken for you.” If I knew the person by name, I said, “The body of Christ, broken for Drew.” “The body of Christ, broken for Kelly.”

The first time I did this, the raw emotion of those simple words caught me full force. As I handed out the bread, one torn piece at a time, my awareness of my own sin overwhelmed me (Luke 22:19). Yet the enormity of what Jesus did for me by dying on the cross proved even greater!

Some people observing my life may be fooled into thinking that I have it all together. But I know better! That accusing voice keeps whispering, You’re a fraud. If people really knew what you’re like, they’d despise you. You’re almost worthless! And yet, here I was giving the elements of the Lord’s Supper to others who needed forgiveness just as much as I do.

The reality is, we’re all in this together. In Jesus we find genuine equality and unity. We have His body and blood, given for us, so that we may come to Him as cherished sons and daughters, fully confident of His inexhaustible forgiveness. As Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant . . . poured out as a sacrifice for you” (v.20). —Tim Gustafson

365-day plan› Acts 16:16-40