Rubber On The Road  

One Christmas, the adults in our family decided that we would draw family names instead of gifting individuals. The gifts to be exchanged were to be a household gift, not specific for either spouse but rather something that could be enjoyed by the whole family. The ladies talked among themselves and shared ideas for possible gifts.  

At our family party, the gift “we” received was a beautiful decorative glass dish of beaded fruit. It was tastefully selected, beautifully wrapped and presented to us by our youngest daughter.  It was lovely and made quite a show piece on our holiday table. I was absolutely delighted.

That night, my husband was uncharacteristically quiet. Finally, he gave a very illustrative sigh.  Sensing his obvious suffering, I asked him, “What’s wrong?”  He said, “I didn’t get ANYthing for Christmas from the kids. Nothing.”   

I reminded him about the agreement to get each other something for the home instead of something personal.  Enthusiastically, I told him about the beautiful bowl of beaded fruit that was now the center piece on our dining room table. 

My husband looked momentarily confused then was thoughtfully silent. I could tell he was mulling over the idea of a generic “please everybody” gift verses a personal, “just for you,” gift.

After moments of thoughtful contemplation he exclaimed, “You mean I got BEADED FRUIT for Christmas?  BEADED— FRUIT?”  Needless to say, whenever our daughters speak of Christmas gifts now, they always, very seriously add, “and do NOT get Daddy beaded fruit, get him something personal!” 

God created us for relationship with Himself. He sent His Holy Spirit so we could have more than a casual relationship, we could have intimacy.  The Holy Spirit searches the mind of God and wants to share that closeness with us. (I Corinthians 2:9-10) 

There are some who would say the gift of the Holy Spirit is from the devil. But, why would the devil give us something that brings us intimacy with the Lord?  Throw aside the constraints of tradition and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Any gift that God gives to bring us into intimacy with Himself, is ALL good!

Luke 11:11-13 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” 

Prayer: Father, help me to remember the precious gift of your son, Jesus this Christmas. Show me how to make Christ the center of my gift giving, my holiday fun and my attitudes. Thank you for such a precious gift, the gift of intimacy with you. Amen. 

Scripture reference:

I Corinthians 2:9-10 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

What is it about this “God baby,” born in a manger 2,000 years ago that inspires Christians to worship and incites the world to hate? 

The world and even many Christians, don’t understand the connection between the lowly birth in a manger and the brutal death on the cross.

The reason God created “us” was to have a relationship with Him. Because of sin, mankind had lost our relationship with God. We celebrate the birth of Christ, but that was only a small part of the plan; a plan that had been made since the beginning of time.  (II Timothy 1:8-10)  

Christmas and Easter aren’t about gifts and candy, a bearded fat man and a cute bunny.  They are about a plan that spans eternity to restore a relationship that had been lost.  (Romans 5:8) Jesus gave His life, the perfect sacrifice, so that we could know God personally.

This is how great God’s love for “me” is, that He willingly gave His only son so that “I” could have intimacy with Him.  (John 3:16) Prophesied about for hundreds of years; Christ’s birth is the day that His plan for restoring relationship with His children would be revealed to mankind. (Galatians 4:3-6) 

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the holiday moment; but let’s remember to look beyond the “baby in the manger” and “the brutal death on the cross” and see the eternal consequences of what was done.  (I Peter 3:18a) 

It wasn’t about the birth or the death, it’s about the COST of our sin and the PAYMENT that was made. It was about ME; forgiveness for my sins; so I can have an intimate relationship with my Lord. None of it is about religion, all of it’s about restoring relationship with God.

Philippians 2: 8-11 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

Prayer:  Thank you for paying the price for my sin and making a way back into your presence.  Help me to always remember how much you loved me–so much that you gave of yourself, you gave your life so I could know you personally. I love you. Thank you. Amen.

Scripture references:

II Timothy 1:8-10      ⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Romans 5:8      But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16    For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Galatians 4:3-6     ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. ⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to son-ship. ⁶ Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

I Peter 3:18a   For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.—- 

Tonight, we went to our church’s annual Christmas Eve candlelight communion service. This service has always been very special to me; something that our family always did together. 

This evening, at the candlelight service, instead of handing me the customary white candle with the little paper skirt to catch the hot drips, the usher at the door handed me a small plastic stick.

 Noticing the questioning look on my face, the usher quietly explained that for safety, the light stick had replaced the traditional candle, which had been a fire hazard. He hurriedly demonstrated how I would “whack” the light stick to activate it.

 Explanation and demonstration concluded, he motioned me on and turned to the next family coming in the door.

“Whack” it? Activate it? The candle represents Christ’s light in us to a lost world, and I’m going to ‘whack and activate it’? I smiled till my teeth were dry, murmured my thanks toward the usher and headed for the sanctuary, my mind screaming, “NOOO!”  As I moved forward, I realized that after all that, I’d not been given a light stick—which was perfectly fine with me!

The beautifully decorated and softly illuminated sanctuary quieted my unease. My husband sat down beside me and pointing to his light stick, I whispered, “What’s up with THIS?” He had already whacked his light and was enjoying it. He said, “It’s a light stick, cool, huh?” 

In frustration, I turned my attention forward, trying to focus on the scripture that was being read instead of the questions circling in my mind.

The Pastor read the scripture about the night Christ was born. His familiar voice, that had read the sacred story every year, did little to sooth my emotional unrest.

I sat there, pondering the light of Christ, trying to rationalize that it really was ok to represent this divine light with a fluorescent plastic tube; that had to be whacked to be activated. 

The Pastor finished his lesson and told us all to come forward for communion.  After we partook of the elements, he told everyone to ‘whack their light stick.’ The girls and ladies whacked their sticks.

All the men and boys, having activated the light of Christ as soon as they were seated, waved their light sticks. 

I still did not have a light stick. I did not want a light stick and certainly would not EVER— WHACK the “light of Christ” even if I did have a light stick. 

As we all made a giant circle around the sanctuary, holding the softly glowing light sticks, I wondered how God felt about representing the light of His precious Son with a whack and glow light stick.

Maybe He was in heaven telling His archangel, Gabriel, to “come look at what these crazy kids are doing.”  Maybe He was even rolling His eyeballs in amusement.  Or not.

As everyone stood, holding their glowing light stick, singing “Silent Night,”  I whispered to God that I was sorry that His precious light was being represented by a whack and glow light stick.

Thoroughly emotionally traumatized, I was relieved when we all moved toward the back to exit the sanctuary. We all left to go out into the world, to take the light of Christ to everyone.

As I walked to our car, I still struggled to envision the Light of Christ, the light of the world, God’s precious Son, represented as a light stick that had to be whacked to activate it. 

Maybe I’m just getting old?  However, an incident from a Christmas past reminded me that there really had been a fire hazard with the use of the traditional candles–. 

Then, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and I knew that not even the wonders of technology could ever diminish the truth; Christ is the light of the world and He has called you and me to take that light to a lost world. 

Technology hadn’t belittled the example; it had only served to keep us safe so nobody would set anybody’s coat on fire, like the year Mrs. Thomas’ fur collar had gotten singed.  Mercy.

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Prayer:  Father, help me to understand that nothing, nobody, not technology, no tale nor circumstance can ever diminish the significance of Christ to a lost world. Thank you. I love you and—Lord Jesus—Happy birthday!

My grandson is three years old and terrified of mixing bowls!

Recently, when he had a stomach virus, his Mama handed him a big glass mixing bowl to throw up in.

 The next week, when she got the (now washed and sterilized) big bowl down to make pancakes; he jumped up from the table and started running down the hall hollering “NO NO NOT THE BOWL MAMA! Not the BOWL!”  Of course, the bowl wasn’t what made him sick! 

As mature adults, we chuckle at the missunderstanding.  But, we do the same thing when we turn away from church because somebody hurts us. Feelings of pain and rejection can scar our hearts deeply. Because we were hurt at church, by church people, we run from the body of Christ.   

Satan knows that ‘we’ love the Lord and can’t be easily discouraged with his “usual” tricks. He knows our personality and is aware of every tender spot in our heart. The devil has no remorse in using the body of Christ against itself. Like the bowl, sometimes, Christians are simply utensils.  

Jesus died to provide us forgiveness of sin and access to a relationship with a Holy God. Satan’s goal is to ruin our intimacy with Jesus. When we separate ourselves from the body of Christ, it is the beginning of our loss of that intimacy. (Psalms 66:18) 

God created us for fellowship, first with Him then with each other. Anything that discourages us from fellowshipping with other Christians is a deception created by satan. When we believe that deception; we are robbed of the strength and encouragement found in the body of Christ.   

Since satan’s number one goal is to separate us from Christ; alienating us from each other is a good first step. (Matthew 5:23-26) If we let him, the devil will use the person sitting on the pew beside us to keep us from relationship.   

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Prayer:  Father, help me to forgive those who have hurt me.  Give my heart understanding  that it is satan, not people, who cause pain.  Show me how to overcome in love and not focus on the turmoil. I love you. Amen.

Scripture references:

Psalms 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened

Matthew 5:23-26 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,  leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Today, I’ve got on my comfortable shoes.  They aren’t pretty, they’re raggedy and worn thin. 

Probably because I put them on every day and rely on them when I have serious walking to do.

My Bible should feel the same way. It is the first thing I reach for when I’m walking through some serious daily trials, which is, when I think on it, EVERY day. 

I’ve dribbled coffee on the pages, cried on it, held it on my lap, thrown it in the back seat of my car and even stashed it under my bed a few times.  An everyday Bible should feel comfortable in hand.  Kind of like your comfy tennis shoes feel on your feet. 

An everyday Bible can be picked up when your hands are dirty or your mouth wants to be dirty–. A Bible that you can grab when you’re so mad you’re going to cry but nobody really gives a flip and that makes you even madder! 

An everyday Bible “knows” your touch and turns to what you need as soon as you reach for it.  It has notes and reminders scribbled inside the covers.  The verses are highlighted and your private thoughts are penned in the margins without fear of prying eyes that would see into your innermost soul. 

Each day of life will have new applications that require further study, more notes that earmark current trials and victories. Fresh revelations of God’s truth need to be chronicled inside the cover for current life circumstances.  Yesterdays notes need to be reread for encouragement and affirmation. 

Like every day wear leaves a permanent impression of your foot in your favorite shoes; every day reading of God’s Word leaves a permanent impression in your heart.   

Psalms 119:11  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Prayer:  Father, help me to treasure your Word, open my eyes to see your direction and encouragement in it’s pages.  I love you, thank you for talking to me through your Word. Amen

The year that I was in 4^th grade, my Dad had been laid off from the glass plant where he worked. Noticing that we’d been having cereal for supper a couple of nights a week, I was worried that Christmas wasn’t going to happen.

My brothers still believed in Santa, or at least, I thought they did. But, I, being the oldest, knew the truth and feared that cold harsh reality would be tough.  The week of Christmas, Dad took his axe and cut down a tree and we decorated it.

Eating popcorn and listening to Christmas carols on the record player, I faced the possibility that there would be no gifts under the tree. As I watched my brothers playing, I began to realize that even if there were no gifts under the tree, the love our family shared every day was a gift to each of us. My thoughts turned toward that first Christmas when the baby Jesus was born. The best gift the world ever received—started as a baby—a part of a family.

One afternoon, mom sent me to her bedroom to get hangars for the clothes she was ironing. As I pulled the metal hangars out from between Dad’s shirts, I saw a roll of new, red wrapping paper. My heart leapt with anticipation!

I hadn’t seen anything but a glimpse at the holiday paper, but it was enough to let me know that, even though I hadn’t seen any shopping being done, there would be presents.  My little heart about exploded; I wanted to jump up and down and clap my hands! That “glimpse” had restored my hope. Even so, the baby Jesus was a “glimpse” of what was to come.  Christmas is not about the baby, it is about the cross and the hoped for restoration of our family relationship with our heavenly Father.

Sometimes, when I pray for loved ones to get saved, I look and look but can’t see any evidence that God is doing anything in their life. But, God speaks to my heart through scripture and I know that He is faithful. God sent His son that we ALL may have life to the fullest. (John 10:10) Just as He was faithful to send His only son to die for our sins, He is faithful to whisper that same awareness of salvation to the hearts of my family and friends.

Years ago, when I saw the wrapping paper in my parent’s closet, I’d been encouraged because I’d caught a glimpse of truth in spite of what my eyeballs had seen. As I grew up, I recognized that the birth of baby Jesus was only a glimpse of God’s great plan. The same holds true for the salvation of my loved ones.

God’s Word gives me an encouraging glimpse, letting me know that His Holy Spirit is always working and progress is being made. Satan hates my prayers, he hates my relationship with Jesus, and he hates the joy and hope that accompany my faith. When I recognize God’s sovereignty, I know that He is faithful.  He will do whatever it takes to bring my friends and loved ones to awareness of their need for Him.

Whether they accept His salvation is up to them; but God, by His Holy Spirit, will make sure His love, mercy and salvation is available to them every moment of their life. The birth of the Christmas baby was the first glimpse of the gift of restoration being brought to God’s children.

2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for the precious gift of your son, Jesus. Thank you for the confirmation of hope through salvation and eternity with you. Help me to realize all that we have now in Christ is only a small glimpse of the glory of eternity with you that is to come. Happy Birthday, Jesus—thank you.

Scripture references:

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

Throughout the holiday season, Christians remind each other, ‘remember the reason for the season’. We see it on buttons, cards, posters, stationary and tracts.  Stop for a moment and think about that holiday greeting. What IS the reason for the season? 

Is the reason so we can buy gifts and give presents to those we love? So we can gather together with friends and family for fellowship?

So we can use gifts as opportunity to reveal the “reason for the season” to the underprivileged and the poor?  Is the reason to celebrate the birth of the tiny “God baby” in a manger 2,000 years ago? 

Just exactly, what IS the “real reason” for the season?  The reason God created ‘us’ was to have a relationship with Him! Because of sin, mankind had lost our relationship with God. We celebrate the birth of Christ, but that was only a small part of the plan.   

God loves us so much that he literally sacrificed His own son so we could have a relationship again.  Then, He sent his Holy Spirit so we could have not just a relationship, but an intimate relationship!  If we choose to have that relationship, recognizing Jesus as Lord, it will last throughout eternity, not just our life here on earth. 

The next time we hear or say, ‘remember the reason’, look beyond the “baby in the manger moment” and see the eternal consequences of what was done that night in the stable, under the stars in Bethlehem.  The reason for the season—was the cross—foregiveness for our sins; so we can have an intimate relationship with our Lord. 

Philippians 2: 8-11 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

The Holy Bible, New International Version®. Pradis:Phil 2:8. Grand Rapids: The Zondervan Corporation, © 1973, 1978, 1984.

Today, I was so MAD that I thought I would just blow UP!  Rarely do I get this angry, but, there it was. 

Usually, I can keep a tight rein on my temper, but, mercy, today was an especially rough challenge!

Years ago, I prayed that God would remove this horrible temper; surely it was of the devil.  To my amazement, God told me this “fire” was a gift, from Him, not a curse from his nemesis. Whaaaat?  Hmm, interesting; fire as a gift from God?

Fire can be used for good, or it can be used for destruction. Fiery personality can be cultivated as anger, or as passion to grow spiritual fruit. It is my choice which direction I allow this fire in my personality to go.

It is important that I understand that both responses require my participation.  Satan, by himself, can’t make me fly into a rage or be vindictive.  And, the Holy Spirit will not MAKE me be responsive instead of reactive. In every circumstance, I make a choice about how to respond to the situation before me.  (Romans 7:4)

Do I REACT in the flesh, or, do I RESPOND with the fruit of the Spirit?  Most often, I can’t control circumstances. But, I DO have full control over how I let those things affect my attitudes, my actions AND my relationship with the Lord. 

I must remember, as a Christian, I have the strength and direction of God’s Spirit, in me through prayer and Bible study.  The discipline required to respond to the Spirit instead of react to the flesh comes with practice.  Self-discipline is an important part of submission to God.

Satan knows that anger and bitterness of heart not only ruins relationships but can separate me from God (Mark 11:25). Discouragement and frustration undermine my faith and hinders both my testimony and my work for God’s kingdom.  Do I allow the fire to burn as anger or as passion to do good? Fire to destroy or passion to bear good  fruit, the choice is mine.   

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control–.”

My grandson, a preschooler, went to play on the playground after eating his hamburger.

After running out the door to the extravagant play facility, he just stopped and stood still.

Then he came back inside and sat down with a big, exaggerated siiiiigh.   

I asked him why he wasn’t playing.  He sighed again then said he was going to but then he started thinking about having to take his shoes off (a sign said take your shoes off to be on the playground)

Then he continued, “But if I take my shoes off then my socks get dirty. Siiiiiigh. AND, I can climb all the way up to the top, BUT, what if I can’t climb back down?”  (another illustrative sigh)  I told him to stop thinking about his “but” and just go play! 

I love the way the Bible uses every day stuff to illustrate truth.   Matt. 12: 29 talks about how the strong man of the house has to be tied up before the thief can rob him.  Your “but” can tie you up.  You’d read your Bible, BUT–. 

We’d witness to that friend next door, BUT–.  We’d go to church faithfully BUT–. Satan knows that there is strength in reading God’s Word.  He knows that there is encouragement in fellowship and there is reward in witness, so, he ties us up. 

When we focus on our “BUT,” we sit down, sigh and just —–let it go. The next time your “BUT” gets in the way and you neglect the things that would lead to an intimate relationship with Jesus. Stop thinking about your but!  

Matthew 12:29  Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.

Prayer:  Father, help me to stop looking for “buts” and start looking for HOW to have a closer relationship with you and do your will. Show me HOW to find reasons for participation instead of excuses for –my but.  Amen.

A few years ago, while visiting out of town, I was at a church that used white grape juice instead of the traditional red for the rite of communion.

I fought the overwhelming urge to stand up, wave my arms and shout, “Whoa! Time out! STOP this abomination, before God sends a lightening bolt from above to punish us for this sacrilege!”

Figuring that was a good way to get a hymnal stuffed in my mouth, I held my peace and begged for God’s mercy as I partook of the pale, totally inadequate, juice.

The next few days, I did not hear any reports of the Pastor or the Deacons being stricken with boils or leprosy nor a plague on any in their households.  A bit surprised, I was still wary.

Maybe the answer was uncomplicated, easy, and totally acceptable.  Maybe they had sent some novice to buy the elements and too late realized the terrible substitution.  Maybe they had chastised the errand runner and explained the importance of sticking to the Biblically ordained elements of communion.

Perhaps, they had fallen on their faces, begged God for his mercy and received grace to substitute the white juice this one time? God is merciful; it was an unwitting mistake, never to be repeated. Whatever, there seemed to be no terrible consequences and soon, the event fell from my thoughts.

Again, communion was served, this time at my own church.  Again, the juice was the white variety.  Confused and fearful, I didn’t know if I should partake or pass.

The Bible is very explicit about if you do not take communion you have no part in ‘Him’, his death or resurrection.  If I passed and did not partake, maybe I’d not have the chance to right the wrong of refusing the Lord’s Supper before I met an untimely death.

No, my best and safest recourse was to once again partake of the pale, surely spiritually eternally insignificant, powerless juice. As I partook of the elements, I begged for God’s mercy. Within my heart, I determined that before I was faced with the trauma of communion again, I would find out what was happening.

My heart troubled, my mind busy, I searched for answers. Perhaps, it was the carnal fear that somebody’s new carpet or upholstery would be stained.  Putting the carnal thought of soiling carpet above the sanctity of Holy Communion, surely not?

Could this be the start of the ‘Great Falling Away’ that the Bible spoke of?  Could this be the very act that would cause even the elect to fall, if it were possible?  Was this the ultimate test of the faithful? (Matt. 24:24)

I had to have answers and I had to have them before I was faced with taking communion again.  God’s mercy endures forever, but then, there was that specter of the unpardonable sin; the unforgivable act of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 12:31-32) Nobody ever seems to be able to say exactly what “that” is. No, I had to know and I had to know soon;  I suspected I could be on thin ice.

I began to pray. My first thought was my brother in-law, Jim. I’d heard his sermons, I’d observed his life and I knew his heart. If he didn’t know, he would have the education and the mind to find out.  I could trust him to reveal the truth; what EVER it may be.

I e-mailed Jim telling him briefly of my mental and spiritual battle.  In short, I asked him if I had grounds to question this substitution or did I simply need to get a grip and make an attitude adjustment.

Within a couple of hours, the phone rang.  I put the receiver to my ear and Jim’s first words were, “get a grip and adjust your attitude.” Jim laughed and went on to tell me that he too had fought a similar mental battle over the pale juice.

He had researched the scriptures thoroughly and confirmed that it was the representation of the covenant with Christ where his blood covers our sins, not the color of the juice being his blood that made the act sacred.

I sighed audibly in relief, I wasn’t going to have worry about committing the unpardonable sin.  I thanked Jim profusely and in parting, he said, “Get a grip and play nice, you’ll get used to it, I did.”

Obviously, the elements are not what makes communion sacred.  The blood of Christ that was spent for our sins is what is sacred. The ‘juice’ or ‘wine’ is only a symbol, a representation (Matthew 26:27-28); like an illustration used in a sermon or a picture illustrating a story.

We should never take communion without searching our hearts and humbling ourselves before God.  Don’t drink the juice or eat the bread with busy thoughts on your mind or an unrepentant heart. (I Corinthians 11:27-29)

Focus on Jesus. Quiet your wandering thoughts and do as Jesus instructed, “do this and remember me, what I have done for you.”

I Corinthians 11:25-26 “after supper, he (Jesus) took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.