*Come in union with Christ!*
`Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.` (1 John 1:3 NIV)
Let us remember what our saviour did for us when he instituted the Holy Communion. When the Captain of our salvation was on the way to shed his body and blood in terrible pain, yet He gave thanks as though He had completed everything, being confident of a glorious victory. In the prospect of that victory, even before He took the field, He did in this ordinance divide the spoil among His followers and “_gave gifts unto men_” (Ephesians 4:8)
In this sacrifice of atonement Christ Himself offered once and for all; and it must not and it cannot, be repeated. Sacrifices of acknowledgment, however, Christians must offer daily, that is, “_the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name_” (Hebrews 13:15). The cup of salvation must be a cup of blessing, with which and for which we must bless God.
This union signifies thanksgiving. It should seem that Christ frequently offered up His prayers in the form of thanksgivings, as, “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me” (John 11:41). Christ gave thanks when He blessed the bread and the cup by giving thanks over them. Though our Savior, when He instituted this sacrament, had a full prospect of His approaching sufferings with all their aggravations, yet He was not thereby indisposed from thanksgiving.
Come, therefore, and let us sing unto the Lord in this ordinance. Let the high praises of our Redeemer be in our mouths and in our hearts. Would we have the comfort, let Him have the praise of the great things He has done for us. Let us remember that thanksgiving is the business of the ordinance, and let that turn our complaints into praises. Whatever matter of complaint we find in ourselves, in Christ we find abundant matter for praise. That is the pleasant subject upon which, we should dwell. For indeed our fellowship, which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers, is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Your brother in Christ,
Apostle Ashok Martin