Elwood C O'Dell

Q4. Which part of the meaning of the Lord's Supper is most valuable for you at this point in your spiritual journey when you partake of and meditate on the Lord's Supper? I have been sitting here thinking over this question and it is really hard for me to separate out one or two things that are more valuable to me at this point in my spirtual journey than the others. Yet as I continued to think on this I am drawn back to the fact that Christ said I am to do this in remembrance of Him. For me it's all about HIM and what HE has done for me. I am the benefactor of HIS great love. Communion is an ever present reminder of this to me.

I believe that extreme symbolism could cause us not to have a deep enough appreciation for what the elements truly stand for. As to where the balance is, perhaps a part of maintaining a better balance, could or should start in my personal preparation for receiving the elements. The way I prepare my heart and soul before I ever enter into this time of worship with Him.

Having had the privilege of being in the ministry for almost 40 years, I can look back on many wonderful times we have shared with our congregations. The joy and thrill of partaking of communion with others was always of highpoint in any service. To have the opportunity to quietly be reminded of what it cost God, His only Son, to purchase my redemption is always a very humbling experience. To hold in my hand the elements symbolic of His body and His blood, and then to partake of them, is for me an experience that is very moving and hard to put into words. For me it is a very vivid reminder that God really is love and in that brief period of time I sense His presence so close and real.

I feel it is more than likely that it is my humanity that seeks to have everything make sense before I venture into the unknown. The problem here, at least for me, is that if I insist on this being so, then I will more than likely miss out on some of the greatest spiritual adventures and journeys that God his in store for me. Those times when He says "just trust me, I know what I am doing." As to a balance between blind obedience and having confirmation by spiritual people I would like to know that those who are giving the confirmation have the gifts do do so. Also I feel it would be most advantageous to remember the truth taught in James 1:5-6.

Might this now just fit into one of those times when we have to remind ourselves that God's thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways. That his ways are higher than our ways, his thoughts higher than our thoughts and sometimes He has His reason(s) for what he does and expects of us that really isn't any of our business. He really doesn't have to explain and sometimes we probably don't need to understand. Just trust Him.

As I read this I was drawn to the fact that Gideon was fearful. The Lord told him "if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant" (v. 10) and Gideon did just that, he took his servant and went. Then once they were there God did exactly what He promised, "you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp." (vs. 11) God showed them, through the the account of the loaf of barley bread, that victory was assured. This made me think of the many times in my life that God allowed friends to come alongside of me during trying times. When I was afraid. Then with them there, for support, God showed through His Word and other ways that victory would come and it all depended on Him. Praise His Name for the victory He gives!