Thus Far the Lord Has Helped Us

12/26/23 – 01/01/24

Faithful to the Church

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/31/23

Jesus set up another Ebenezer for us when He established communion. At the Lord’s table, we remember Christ’s sacrifice—His body broken for us, His blood poured out for the remission of our sins.

Jesus Christ wants us to always remember His amazing love displayed on the cross. So, He established communion as a perpetual reminder of His eternal victory over death, sin, and shame for all who believe.

In our corporate, sacramental celebration of Christ’s sacrifice, we publicly declare, “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.” When we eat the bread and drink from the cup, we proclaim our faith in the saving power of Christ’s death and the hope of the resurrection. We declare the mystery hidden for ages but now revealed to His saints that Christ indwells all who confess Him as Lord and believe in His resurrection (see Colossians 1:26-27 and Romans 10:9). Communion is the Ebenezer that points us to the hope of the glory of God through the blood of Jesus Christ.

When we remember, “Thus far the Lord has helped us,” we experience inward revival, restoration, and renewal. As an Ebenezer, the physical act of communion reminds us of the spiritual reality that, through His faithfulness to the point of death, Christ has secured our salvation. So, the next time you come to the Lord’s table, let the physical symbol of feasting on Christ lead you to deeper faith in and a stronger relationship with your Savior.

Prayer: Lord, help me to enjoy the wonder of Your grace and faithfulness each time I come to Your table to receive communion. Thank You for the physical reminder of a spiritual reality, that by Your death, I am made alive. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me'” (Luke 22:19).