The Difference Remembering Makes

March 9, 2023

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NLT

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. Colossians 2:13-15 NLT

Paul is sharing his memories with his Corinthian friends. He remembered the night the Lord Jesus started a special celebration and way for His followers to build strength into their futures by the best use of their memories. He broke bread and drank wine with them and said it was a symbol of what He was going to do for them. It represented the new covenant God was making with His people—an agreement confirmed by His own blood. He told them to break bread and drink wine together regularly, and every time they did it to remember what He had done, and also remember that He was coming again.

Then to the Colossians Paul spelled out exactly what this new covenant did. They needed to remember!

  • He brought them from death to life. They were dead in their sins, helpless to do anything for themselves.
  • He forgave all their sins and canceled every charge against them.
  • He disarmed all of their enemies and took away all their authority.
  • He shamed their enemies by winning total victory on the cross!

Paul’s great strength in life was that he always remembered Jesus. Most of the problems that defeat us in life are because we fail to remember Christ and His victory on our behalf. Receiving Jesus is not enough. We must remain in Him, then remember Him and what He has done. That will lead to rejoicing and the abundant life He provides.

If you pursue Jesus and His Kingdom above all else, you will remember Jesus. If you remember Jesus, you will gratefully pursue Him and His Kingdom above all else. Remember Jesus.

  • You do not have to wait until the next time we have the Lord’s Supper to remember Jesus. How will you remember what He has done for you today?