Communion Meditation
Hebrews 10:12-25
INTRO
I remember it like it was yesterday even though it was actually about 40 years ago. I am sure it happened only once even though my mother would swear it was a nightly occurrence. Okay … maybe it happened once … a week. But anyhow … it wasn’t nearly as often as mom makes it out to be {wink & smile}.
I do remember the dread I would feel when I knew it was drawing near. Mom would call me by my family nickname (which I still hear when I return home but would never tell you) and then I would be instructed to … TAKE MY BATH.
Mom could have not asked for a more laborious or distasteful “chore” for this 7 year old.
There was something about a bath that I just hated. It was almost as if I was allergic to the water. Maybe I saw “The Wizard of Oz” too many times and thought I’d melt.
Mom’s instruction was inevitably followed by a firm demand … and a threat that I doubt she could have ever really carried out … I mean who would really sell their oldest son to Gypsies.
I thought I was clever. I’d go into the bathroom and run the water – being very careful not to allow a droplet to actually make contact with my body – and then after what seemed an eternity I would pull the drain plug, put on my pajamas and emerge from the bathroom with a sense of accomplishment and shrewdness.
But she always knew. Always. I wonder what gave it away? Maybe it was the ring of dirt that still circled my neck like a necklace coupled by the lines of dirt in the hollow of my elbows. Maybe it was her innate maternal instinct. I dunno how she knew but she ALWAYS did!
This occasionally led to a few swats on the derriere (I’d rather have been sold to the Gypsies) and inevitably a return trip to the bathroom.
Under supervision.
Sometimes … sometimes … Mom would actually give me a bath herself!
With soap!
I still remember how much it hurt when she washed my hair.
And how dirty the water was.
And the ring around the tub.
And how good I actually felt when I was finally clean.
++++++++++++++
Sometimes we don’t learn our childhood lessons very well. How many adults pretend to be spiritually clean when they are actually playing games of pretend? How many actually think that neither God nor man will ever really know? They think nothing will give them away.
But Scripture suggests otherwise. Listen to Hebrews 10:12-25. It is speaking of Jesus Christ when it says:
12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." 17Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."
18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Mom could always tell when I had actually taken a bath. The same is true spiritually too. There is always evidence of a clean heart; evidence that is both internal and external.
INTERNAL EVIDENCE – A CLEAN CONSCIENCE
The conscience serves as an internal guide for the Christian. When the conscience troubles the Saint it is a good idea to pause and let the search light of God do its work. This internal guide gets its signals from the Holy Spirit and Word of God (15-16).
These faithful and flawless agents help us maintain a spiritual connectedness to God … a connectedness that reveals itself in intimacy (18-22).
18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Intimacy wanes when there is sin in the life of a Christian doesn’t it? We cannot draw near with confidence when we are hiding in the shadows pretending to be clean while still wearing the sweat beads of sin.
There is no hiding in the bathroom waiting for a sufficient extended period of time to pass before we walk out acting as if all is well. It requires the ministry of Jesus – His blood to wash us and makes us clean.
EXTERNAL EVIDENCE – LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS
Our bodies follow our hearts and when there is unconfessed sin within it hinders our efforts to serve God effectively. A clean heart reveals itself in love, good deeds, and Christian community (v. 23-25).
23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Just as the conscience is an internal indicator of a clean heart so our acts of righteousness (or lack thereof) are also indicators of a life that is right with God.
The more God transforms me through the great commandments (Mark 12:29-31) the more I see good works as evidence of love.
Especially as I look at the second greatest commandment:
31The second is this: ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’
What a waste it is to spend one’s time and life merely serving one’s self. That is no way to go through life.
Jesus spent himself in service to others and, in doing so, showed his love and devotion to God. It was evidence that the heart was pure and clean.
It can be no less true for us.
CONCLUSION
You know when your heart is clean. You can hide and pretend but it is all to no avail. And you know what -- it feels good to be clean too!
Before we receive communion this morning I would like to give you the opportunity to do some serious business with God.
The day is approaching (v. 25) and wise is the one who takes off the façade and can stand before God with a clean heart.
He who has ears to hear
Let him hear.
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
