Remembering With Honor, Part I

“Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19b

When I was a young teen, I had a very important person in my life: my great-grandmother.  She was this lovely, petite lady who barely approached my chin as I held her arm on the way into church.  She had long white hair she always wore up in a double bun at the nape of her neck.  In the winter she wore a cobalt blue coat, highlighting her sky blue eyes and contrasting beautifully with her snowy hair.

Although she knew many hardships in life, (she had lost her mother as a young woman and helped raise her younger sisters, her husband had died after suffering from Alzheimer’s, and she lived alone her final years in her little brick house, constantly combatting loneliness,) she had a truly sweet and gentle spirit.

She lived directly across the road from our family, and I would visit her every morning before I boarded the school bus, and even practiced my music lessons on her piano when I did not have an instrument at home.

Grandma was always sweet, wanting to feed both the body and soul.  She was always trying to feed anyone who stopped by, and she seasoned the meal with conversation about her Jesus. She didn’t preach at you; instead I remember her telling me about how He constantly helped her throughout her life. He was her constant comfort and companion.

I was 15 when she died.  I knew she was ready to meet Jesus face-to-face, for she had told me many times.  Yet, I missed her terribly.  I remember the cloudy afternoon after we laid her to rest deep in the earth, I returned home to my room and wrote a poem.  I also prayed I would one day possess a deep faith like hers.  A faith, that even through adversity, would never waver.

I also vowed, if I ever became a writer, my pen name would be Stefanie Lynn.  Grandma’s maiden name was Lynn, and I was named after this great woman. I never wanted to forget her gentle, sweet example of how a Christ-like lady lives.

I have the immense joy of honoring her memory every time someone asks me how I chose that name.

In Luke 22, Jesus commands his disciples to do certain things in “remembrance of me.”

Beginning in verse 19, he instructs his disciples on what we commonly call “Communion.”

I currently attend a church where we take communion every week.  With the number of moves we have had over our marriage, we have attended many churches.  However this is the only church we have attended which offers a weekly communion.

I like the weekly communion.  Each week I am given the opportunity to stop all other thoughts, and focus on what Christ did for me. It should not be viewed as a guilt trip, but rather a reminder of how humble a position I occupy, and how deep His love for me,  that I am important to Him, so important in fact, He gave His life.  That time should help me refocus my spirit on Him.  Realign my thoughts with God motives.  And, propel me forward in acting how He commands.  Not perfect.  Not on this side of heaven.  But desiring to serve and honor Him.

Jesus says if you love me, you will keep my commands.

Do my words honor Him?

Do my actions honor Him?

Do my thoughts honor Him?

Can Jesus tell from what I do that I love Him?

When we take the name as a “Christian,” we are identifying ourselves with Christ.  We are sharing His name.  Just as I reference my great-grandmother in my pen name, Christians reference Christ by our collective title.

That very thought should give us pause before we say or do anything.

Reflections:

Monday: Read Luke 22:14-16 “When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.  For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.’”

Why would Jesus say “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you, before I suffer?” What does that tell you about how He feels about us?

Tuesday: Read Mark 14:22 “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.'”

How does the symbolism of Jesus taking bread, breaking it, and comparing it to His body strike you?

He knew what was coming.  And He did not run from it, but embraced it.  Why?

He loves us. Can you accept  and believe that He did it for you?

Wednesday: Read Mark 14:23-24 “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,’ he said to them.”

Jesus says, “This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”  Of whom is He talking?

Do you accept He did this for you?  Without your request, without your “earning” it, He freely offers it to you.

Thursday: Read Luke 22:19 in its entirety. “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

What significance do the words “Do this in remembrance of me,” hold for you?

How can you apply that principle?

Friday: Prayer. Heavenly Father, how humbly I come before You.  Long before I entered the earth, You authored and put into place a plan which would redeem me back into Your presence.  The heart  knowledge of that very action and great love should stop me in my tracks, to evaluate how I live my life.  Please, show me the changes I need to make, and how I can bring honor and glory to You.  Amen

Thank you for reading!  Please return by Monday, March 17 for the next post.  Have a blessed week!