I hate nights that when I know I need to be sleeping and getting rest, my mind just won’t shut down!  I even feel like I can hear myself talking!  Or, I get awake for whatever reason and then I cannot fall back to sleep.  It’s always about the stupid stuff that I cannot do anything about.  I’ll try to give it all to the Lord, but within seconds, I am already grabbing it back and making it my own problem.  Why do humans do that?  Why do we carry burdens and heavy loads when we don’t have to?  Why do we allow things in life to rob us of the life God intended for us?

In 1 Corinthians 11:23-32, St. Paul is talking to the Corinth Church about the Institution of the Lord’s Supper.  The Last Supper was the last meal that Jesus had with his disciples just before his death.  Jesus took the bread and broke it, gave thanks to God, and told them, “This is my Body given for you.”  Then He took the wine, gave thanks, and said, “This is my Blood shed for you.  Do this in remembrance of me for the forgiveness of sins.”  Notice, Jesus doesn’t say this is bread symbolizing my Body or wine symbolizing my blood – But This IS My Body and This IS My Blood.

How does the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ?  Through these Words of Institutions and your faith and believe in Jesus Christ!  Bread is only bread if the Word of God is not spoken and the same with the wine.  God’s Word must be spoken  and your belief in the Resurrected Christ must be known to God in your heart!  When we then partake in this Meal, our hearts must be repentant of those things that keep us awake of night,  recognizing that we have messed up and cannot carry the burden by ourselves. – but yet, to be open for a change of heart and a new way of living our lives –  a Life FREE from our Sin!

These things that keep us at night are the things that rob us of our joy in Christ!!  Jesus’ death on the cross gave you the opportunity to “let go” once and for all, all those stupid things that are keeping you from a deeper relationship with the Lord.  Partaking in the Lord’s Supper with the Word of God spoken, and our hearts open to change, will free you from your sin!  It is a freedom that no one else can give to you!

Let us pray,,,Gracious God, we give thanks for your Son who came to this earth to free us from sin just so that we can be in relationship with you and have the opportunity to know you with all our heart.  Strengthen us on our journey with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ – the One who died for us.  In your name we pray, Amen.