Editors Note: Below are some Thoughts on the “The Lord’s Supper,” from R. H. Boll in his book, “Truth and Grace,” (1917). This was supbmited by Jim Rowe
“A week usually holds much of difficulty and trial and temptation, and some of the dust of the world will settle on even a soul that has acquainted itself creditably during that space. In a week a man can become proud and independent. In a week a man can get discouraged even unto death. In a week a man can lose faith, hope, and love.
It was the Lord’s special object in giving us the bread and cup, for a keepsake, that each time we partake of it we might remember Him –
- His gentle forbearance;
- the unfailing care;
- the deep, true affection: and above all,
- the fact that he gave his all for us and to us.
Therein lies not only grateful remembrance of His deed, but it is, when rightly observed, the antidote for the world’s poison, and all our sin, grief, and discouragement.
It reassures us of that unchanging love that shrank from no extent of sacrifice.
It bears to our souls the inevitable conclusion that having done us such supreme kindness at such tremendous cost when we were yet in sin and rebellion, He will much more now care and work for us and do all a true Savior can do, that He may save us from the wrath to come.
We are prone to forget it.
We are always ready t measure God’s love and good will by our own –than which man never did a poorer thing.
But before this memorial feast the false doubts and fears and distrusts that trouble an ruin our souls must flee as the returning sunlight chases the evil birds of the night.”
(End of the section)
The above was displayed when I recently just picked up this old book and it fell open to this page (#270). The importance and/or significance of the Lord’s Supper has been a subject of discussion in our family, especially after attending two different congregations where the bread & cup were available to pick up when entering the building and little more was said. Attenders were free to take these at a time of their choice during the service. [We were both confused by the omission of comments and empty of the reminder we were accustomed to as to the meaning and significance of participating in the Lord’s Supper (Communion).]
Further to these experiences, we had also heard the comments of a new servant of the congregation we attended when he said “this congregation does communion right”. That comment was only considered by us as “the normal” of such Communion services. The importance of the comment became “very real” after attending the congregations mentioned earlier.
After an examination of own attitudes on the subject, I became aware that we had “just assumed” that the Communion services (the Lord’s Supper) would always be emphasized as it “had always been done”. It became obvious that I had become complacent with such an assumption. Such thinking is likely the reason for the many departures from Biblical teaching we have observed in the “professing” Church of our current society.
It became more apparent that we need to be more aware of outside pressures to change the doctrine and practice of the Lord’s Church by continued emphasis of Biblical teaching and practices.
(i.e. Bro. Bolls book title “Truth and Grace”)
May God direct us, James (Jim) Rowe