Remembering the Sacrifice

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. I'm Bill Crowder, and I titled today's reading, Remembering the Sacrifice.

Following the Sunday morning worship service, my Moscow host took me to lunch at a restaurant outside the Kremlin. Upon arrival, we noticed a line of newlywed couples in wedding garb approaching the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin wall. The happiness of their wedding day intentionally included remembering the sacrifices others had made to help make such a day possible.

It was a sobering sight as the couples took pictures by the memorial before laying wedding flowers at its base. All of us have cause to be thankful for others who've made sacrifices to bring a measure of fullness to our lives. None of those sacrifices are unimportant, but neither are those sacrifices the most important. It's only at the foot of the cross where we see the sacrifice Jesus made for us and begin to understand how thoroughly our lives are indebted to the Savior. In remembrance and gratitude of all Jesus has done in us and for us. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning again and again. In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood.

Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me. Do this whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. Let's pray. Loving God, nothing could ever repay the priceless display of love evidenced in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Help us to display our gratitude for what he's done for us. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.