The Chronicles of Biscuit: "Goin' Through the Motions"

Today I had to go to Oklahoma City, so didn't pick Biscuit up after school. On my way home, I called him. He was at the office with his dad.  It was an interesting conversation:

Me:  Hi, Biscuit! How was your day?

Biscuit:  Oh, good....you know....just goin' through the motions.

Me: Oh, really?  How do you just 'go through the motions' at school?

Biscuit: Well, you just go through the day, but you don't really know what's going on. You're just kind of 'there'.  

Well, that's interesting, isn't it???  Wonder if Biscuit just 'goes through the motions' often at school?  I'm guessing 'not' since we haven't gotten a call or text from the teachers or the PRINCIPAL!  Ha ha!!  (And Biscuit will be in BIG trouble if we DO get a call about it!!)

But Biscuit got me to thinking.....

How often do we just "go through the motions" as a Christian?  How many times do we worship Him, without really, really worshipping Him?  How many times do we sing praises to Him, yet not focus on the words? How many times do we partake of the Lord's Supper....a time of communion with Him, yet fail to focus on what He did for us.  Dying on a cross is pretty significant.  It was a huge gift that He willingly gave His life for ME and for YOU.

Maybe Biscuit's thoughts made me think just a little bit more about my worship.....and my praise.....and my communion with my Lord and Savior.  And just maybe it will make you think about yours, as well.

Two Meals and One Supper

Since school started a few weeks ago, I had been making lunches for one of my children only.  The youngest usually likes eating at school and the older two get to come home for lunch.  Yesterday the younger one wanted his lunch made, too....and he did again this morning.

As I was making the two lunches this morning, my oldest son said, "Mom, how are you liking making lunches again?"  He asked because by the end of the school year, it's certainly not my favorite activity!  It's much better making two that in was making four for several years.

Thinking about how I feel about the monotony of making lunches, my mind went to the Lord's Supper.  Each and every Sunday, I - along with my brothers and sisters in Christ - partake of this communion meal together.  It's done to remember Christ's death on the cross and to reflect on what that meant for each of us.

Do I ever get complacent partaking in this meal every week?  Does it become monotonous where I'm no longer thinking about what it means?  I'm sure I do.  I'm sure I don't always keep in mind - as I should - just what that communion time means for me and for this whole world.

Sometimes it's good to think back.  Sometimes it's good to go back to that true account of His death.  Think of the nails.  Think of the thorny crown.  Think of the pain and agony that He went through...for YOU and for ME.  It doesn't take long to realize that the Lord's Supper should never be monotonous or thought of to be less than what it really is - communion together with our Lord and Savior.

As you read the following passages, think about when He did for you.  And Sunday, as you commune with your brothers and sisters in Christ, reflect back to the cross.  Think of the significance of the bread and the cup.  Think of what it means for you.  I'll be thinking about what it means for me.

 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

²⁷ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant,which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Matthew 26:26-29

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

²⁷ Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ²⁹ For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 

1 Corinthians 11:23-29

"IN REMEMBERANCE OF ME"

This morning I began teaching the pre-K and Kindergarten class again, after having taught the 7th & 8th grade girls since January. I was looking forward to teaching them all, but it's especially neat getting to have Tyler in there as I teach this class during the summer months.

I decided to teach them about the Last Supper. Because we partake of the Lord's Supper/Communion every Sunday, the children are very interested in what it is about. I began the lesson by talking about symbols that help us remember things. I showed them a heart. The children said it reminded them of love and Valentine's Day. I showed them a star. It reminded them of shooting stars and the wise men following the star to see Jesus. I showed them a raven. Elijah was our VBS theme last year, so they remembered that the ravens fed Elijah. I asked them what else they remembered about a raven. How someone in a big boat sent a raven out of the window. Of course, I was hinting for someone to answer "Noah", but one little boy blurted out: "NOSEPH!" A cross between Noah and Joseph! It was so cute and we all laughed. I thanked the little boy for making me laugh this morning!

The lesson went well. I lit a candle and we turned off the light and sat on the floor around the low table, perhaps like Jesus and the apostles did. I explained to the children that Jesus and the apostles didn't have electricity. I served the children just like Jesus did at the "Last Supper", with the fruit of the vine (we use grape juice) and unleavened bread. We talked about how Jesus said, "do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19b. In 1 Corinthians 12:26, it talks more about the Lord's Supper: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes." . This verse says, "for as often". We do it weekly because of this verse in Acts 20:7 "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread..."

The class seemed to make an impression on the children. It did Tyler. During the communion service this morning, he leaned over and said, "Mom, that's what we learned about!". Yes, we learned about how the Lord's Supper is a memorial of the death of Jesus, just as Jesus himself explained to His apostles during His Last Supper with them. The bread represents His body and the fruit of the vine represents His blood. I hope we always remember the importance of the communion time and always "do this in remembrance of Him."