Reading between the lines of a brother’s worship gave the impression that he had been mentally drained and spiritually cold in coming to the Breaking of Bread that morning. The worship of others had stirred him. His soul was now aflame. His offering refreshed us and certainly must have pleased the Lord. Sincere wonder and appreciation filled his words: “Our week doesn’t get any better than this.”
The hymns might not be the best choice or to the right tune or at the optimum pitch. The prayers may seem like “the same old same old” – sometimes. So-and-so’s trappings, troubles, or tardiness may be distracting, but it doesn’t get any better than this: the Lord is here (Mat 18:20). His presence is as uplifting as on that resurrection day when the doors were locked (John 20:19). His thoughts are as personal and attuned to our thinking as He was to Thomas’ the following week. He still bears the wounds He invited Thomas to explore. He never tires of hearing overwhelmed hearts exclaim, “My Lord and my God!” (vv 26-28). As then, so now He has found a failing few who honor, adore, and exalt Him, while they live among His enemies. Here we are changed and warmed as greatly as Thomas was, for we hear His words, view His wounds, remember Him (Luke 22:19). Here we come closest to the highest purpose for which we were made, the dearest privilege for which we were redeemed, and the grandest prospect for which we were called.
“This…” The weekly remembrance follows the practice of early Christians (Acts 20:6, 7). Anything less frequent would only impoverish us spiritually. As He planned for His own when He was being betrayed (1Co 11:23), this involves a cup from which we each partake (10:16, 21) and a loaf from which we each break our portion (vv 16, 17). Not the right of individual believers, this is the privilege of a church of God, for “we are all partakers of that one bread” (1Co 10:17). Those in the Church, the Body, don’t all partake of the loaf; the believers in Corinth did and therefore they expressed their body character, which they then must maintain in their actions (11:22) and thoughts (12:15-27). This is the heart of the assembly; when it functions properly, spiritual and restorative health flows to all the assembly’s functions and frictions.
What a privilege! God’s grace has brought us to a testimony divinely-planted and preserved. If we lose sight of “this,” the colorless landscape has become dull and our labor drudgery. This precious feature of each divine testimony still fulfills His desire just as He directed: “This do in remembrance of Me.”
