BELIEVE YOUR BELIEFS (Give Them Spiritual Muscles)

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Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

When you come to communion, there are what might be called four imperatives to give it meaning.  You have been given the choice; to accept all four, or three, or two, or one, or none and just go through the motions.

            There is repentance - which allows you to use a mistake as a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block.  It is renouncing a bad yesterday for a better tomorrow.  How you define it is your choice.  Whether you repent or not is God’s imperative.

            The second of the four imperatives I hope you bring to the communion table is overwhelming love for God and your fellowman.  Sometimes, for some people, it is easier to say, “I am sorry I was bad” than it is to love the neighbor you have been bad to.  To love the unlovely is a challenge, but that is exactly what partaking of Communion is…a challenge.

            Third, having asked forgiveness for what you did that was wrong yesterday, what do you plan to do to improve how you life tomorrow?  It isn’t that God is not patient and loving.  You never use up some spiritual quota of forgiveness.  But a little honest effort at improvement would certainly be appreciated. 

            What criteria should you set up?  Well, questions such as: will you be a nicer person? Make your husband or wife happier?  Remember the commandments more readilyand follow them more often?  Those who work with you, will they be able to see a difference?

            A story to make my point.  A young man when he called on a girl for their second date was approached by her father with the following question, “Well, what are your intentions, young man?”  The boy never moved so fast.  He was gone in a second and was down the street faster than can be described.  You see he didn’t have any intentions.

            Some people have dates with the Lord but never have any intentions.

            And yes, fourth - think about how often the word “way” is used in the Bible.  Hundreds of times.  “The way of the Lord is perfect.” (2^nd Samuel)  “The way of the ungodly shall (to) perish.”  (1^st Psalm)  The question, when it comes to communion and forgiveness and commitment…what are your intentions.