Communion Thought

Yesterday, before communion, one of our elders got up to give a "communion thought" to help us in the congregation focus and reflect on our Lord's sacrifice for us. I think this is the shortest communion thought this particular elder has ever given (really, I think he missed his calling as a preacher or speaker). But then, his text more than easily speaks for itself; it needed no embellishment or explanation from him. Here is what he shared with us:

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--among whom we all once lived in the passions of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the givt of god, not a result of works so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV)

I don't really think it needs much from me, either. I can only say it impressed on me the immeasurable gift I have been given through His grace and mercy. I have not earned my relationship with God; I can do nothing to save myself. But He, in His wisdom, chose to love me enough to give it to me freely, the only, heavy cost being to His Son. What a wonderful God I have!