ACC COMMUNION MEDITATION [2/26/2017]

Scripture:
you were bought at a price -I Corinthians 6:20
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the
benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of
sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans
6:22-23

I worked the big consignment sale at the New Salem Lions Club yesterday, and it got me
thinking about the whole process. Have you ever consigned goods? Or been to a
consignment sale? Got any experience with it? Maybe you farmers have consigned
things, or you ladies have consigned clothing? Or bought from consignment shops?
You probably know generally how it works then, right? Yesterday, for example
farmers brought goods to the Lions Club; the Lions Club sold the goods; then the
Lions Club will eventually pay the farmers and keep an agreed-upon portion
(commission) for selling the goods. Andif the sale price or terms werent what the
farmer wanted for the good, he could buy it back.
I think that is how our salvation through Jesus Christ is. Right? I looked up consign; it
literally means to send. As infarmer sends his good to the Lions Club; you send
your clothes to the consignment shop. God has consigned us to the world. Jesus
Christ has paid the price for our sin by dying on the cross, but imagine for a moment
that never happened. Absent Christs death on the cross, you are consignedsent
to a sinful world. You cannot pay enough to purchase your redemption from that
world. Theres not enough money, good deeds, pure thoughts, Bible knowledge,
animal sacrifices, clothing, or farm equipment to offer in exchange for your sin. You
are a slave to sin without Christ. And whats more? The wages of sin is death.
ButGod has bought us back. He has decided the terms of the saleHis people as
slaves to sin with no escape from a death that would keep us from Him foreverare
not what He wants. So He has bought us back. Know what it cost Him? He sent His
Son Jesus Christ from heaven to the world to endure a human life during which He
was scorned, shamed, abused, hatedthough He never did anything wrong. It ended
with a death sentence carried out in the most horrific fashion. He was tortured and
made to carry the cross Hed eventually be nailed to and hang from till He died. Now,
three days later, God raised Him from death, so that the price Jesus paid would be
enough to satisfy the price of our sin (death). But the price was highmuch higher
than were worth.
I have prideful moments when I feel like Im worth that price. (Ughdo you?) Then I sin
and Im (all-too-often) humbly reminded that Im not. Or I open the Bible, kneel to
pray, or come here to worship, and Im reminded of my place: I belong to God; I have
been bought with a price. Make communion a time for that reminder. Honor Him in
the way you take part, and humble yourself enough to recognize the price God paid to
save you.

Lets pray
God, thank you for buying our salvation. May we remain humble enough to be mindful
that we are Yours! Help us to remembernot just at communion but at all times
what a glorious gift Youve given us: eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord! We love You,
and it is in Your Sons Name we pray. Amen.