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The
Unused Cup
Early
one Sunday morning, a group of party leaders came by the White House to
see President James A. Garfield to discuss a bill they thought should be
passed by Congress. They were
surprised when he said he had a very important appointment and would talk
to them that afternoon.
"But
Mr. President," one man asked, "What could be more
important than THIS?"
Garfield
arose and walked to the
door, turned to the party leaders and said, "Gentlemen, I have
an appointment at the Lord's table!"
He then left with
Mrs. Garfield and went to Sunday morning worship.
President
Garfield
's "appointment at the Lord's table" was a reference to
the Lord's Supper, a memorial of the sufferings of
Christ observed by Christians every first day of
the week (Acts 20:7). The
Apostle Paul gave the following instructions to Christians concerning
their "appointment at the Lord's table":
"For
I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord
Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He
had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take,
eat; this is My body which is broken for YOU;
do this in remembrance of Me." In the same
manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This
cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often
as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as
often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's
death until He comes" (1Corinthians 11:23-26).
An
invitation has been extended to each member of the human race to come
in obedient faith
(Acts 16:30-31) confessing
Jesus as Lord before men (Rom10:9-10) turning away from sin in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31) and being baptized
(immersed) for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38) so that they too
may take their "reserved
seat" at the Lord's table with those who will inherit eternal
life.
Consider
the declarations of an "Unused
Cup"…
"I
am an unused cup for communion... left last Sunday from the worship
service, giving testimony of an appointment unkept, a trust broken….
"I
was filled in anticipation... that some Christian would drink of my
contents and be reminded of the price of his redemption.
"Here
I sit-- unused... Yet I bear witness of a love extended, a fellowship
desired, and a grace made available. ‘This
is the NEW covenant in my blood,' Jesus said.
"Here
I remain...
reminding one and ALL that God's gift MUST be claimed.
He forces neither himself nor his blessing on anyone -- but He
eagerly awaits acceptance.
"There
is a cup for YOU each Lord's day... and no one
else has a right to use it!
It is a sacred appointment that each of us has with the Lord to do
this in remembrance of Him" (cf. Hebrews
10:24-29).*
Yes,
there IS
an appointment to be kept for the child of God at the Lord's table AND
there is ALSO a seat reserved for YOU!
The Lord's Table is set…
Will
you keep YOUR
appointment?
God bless you,
David
A. Sargent /
Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
* Author Unknown;
printed in Glencoe (AL) Gleaner
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