The Pilgrim Path---Job 23: 3 

“Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!”

COMMUNION

“Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements, in this sacrament, do then also, inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually, receive, and feed upon, Christ crucified, and all benefits of his death: the body and blood of Christ being then, not corporally or carnally, in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet, as really, but spiritually, present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses” Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 29. Section 7.

It has been quite a while since we have come to the Lord’s Table. This coming Sabbath is the return to the Communion Service of The Living Christ. I have been going back over the notes of the Rev. Andrew Gray, one of Scotland’s most capable ministers. His concern was that we engage the Savior when we gather for The Supper. It is possible to come---and not really meet Him. As Gray used to say, “we need to stir ourselves up to lay hold upon Christ and enquire after Him.” Some thoughts from Gray to consider as we come:

---Pride is a “cloud” that interrupts communion with God. We will not miss Him if we put ourselves in the dust in our own eyes before Him…

---Low thoughts of Christ will not assure much of a meeting: He is not like an old almanac---He is ever new and ever valuable. He must be perceived as such…

---We need to come like Jacob: in wrestling form---ready for a blessing. We compliment God with high expectations of His bounty and grace…

---The Living Christ has “closed” the distance between Heaven and Earth---we should anticipate a meeting because of His work and Love. He has made Us partakers of Covenant Bounty as the Mediator…

---We are “ready” to find Him means we are ready to obey all the dictates of His Holy Word

---We are ready for Him: more than anything He can give---He is our desire

WHY SOME FIND HIM NOT?

---they do not seek Him with the whole heart (“Thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart” Deut. 4: 29). “…we know what it is to tongue our prayers, but we know not what it is to heart our prayers.” Andrew Gray

---sometimes we seek as if we cared not for an answer---woeful formality, indifference

---we seek Christ more to satisfy curiosity---than to strengthen love or faith

---we are not diligent and constant (He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him—Hebrews 11: 6)

---we simply depend too much upon our own strength rather than the power He provides---“Jesus Christ will have us taught that our seeking and finding is free grace.” Andrew Gray

---faith is the way to come: “let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord, that seeks in doubt” James 1: 7

“The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” Psalm 34: 10

“Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek His presence continually!” I Chronicles 16: 10, 11

“God knoweth that ye are his own. Wrestle, fight, go forward, watch, fear, believe, pray; and then ye have all the infallible symptoms of one of the elect of Christ within you.” Samuel Rutherford

Jesus, source of lasting pleasure, truest friend and dearest treasure,

Peace beyond all understanding, joy into all life expanding:

Humbly now, I bow before you, love incarnate, I adore you;

Worthily let me receive you, and, so favored, never leave you.

Johann Franck, 1649, trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1858; alt.

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason