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March 21, 2007
FROM THE COUCH
From the Couch
Sacramental Living
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
I love confirmation class. It’s my one opportunity each week to talk about theology for a whole hour with a captive audience! A few weeks back, we had a great discussion about sacraments. In case you might be wondering, a sacrament is an outward sign or seal of an inward work of the Holy Spirit. The sacraments of baptism and communion are visible signs that point to invisible things that the Holy Spirit is working in us. For example, the water of baptism signifies the washing away of sin, as well as the renewing and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in salvation. Similarly, the bread and wine of communion signify the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. As we eat the bread and drink the cup together, we visibly demonstrate our personal union with Christ, as well as the unity that we share in Christ. The water, bread and wine are meaningful to us because we can see and smell and taste and touch them. They help us tangibly grasp what God is at work doing on the inside.
I was thinking the other day (which is usually dangerous), and I decided that all of life is kind of like a sacrament. Sure, I know that Jesus only gave us two sacraments. That’s why I’m careful to say that life is kind of like a sacrament. Here’s where I’m going with this – God designed the whole of life to be an exercise in devotion to Him. Each word, action, and decision is an opportunity to give outward testimony that the Holy Spirit is at work on the inside. That’s how life is like a sacrament. The outward things that show what God is doing on the inside are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul tells us that even the small things in life, like eating and drinking, are to be done for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Every part of life is designed to be lived as an act of worship. And every area of life (family, church, work, school, finances, friends, recreation) should give outward evidence that the Holy Spirit is finishing the work that He has started in us. That’s sacramental living. It’s a high calling, and we can’t begin to reach it in our own strength. But we should be encouraged, because the Spirit who dwells in each of us is much greater than the flesh that we contend with each day.
My prayer for each of you this week is that you will find unbelievable joy and purpose this week as you live each moment of life in devotion to the One who bought you at such a great price. May the Lord bless and keep you!
Pastor Couch
Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at March 21, 2007 02:31 PM