Remember Christ: A Devotional Reflection

Scripture

“The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took bread. And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ 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.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” — 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Reflection: The Power of Remembrance

In a world constantly racing forward, Jesus calls us to pause and remember. To remember not just with passive recollection, but with active participation. When Christ broke bread with His disciples, saying “Do this in remembrance of me,” He instituted more than a ritual—He gave us a profound way to engage with the story of our salvation.

When we come to the Lord’s Table, we participate in a sacred moment that spans three dimensions of time:

1. Past: We remember Christ’s sacrifice, how He willingly became broken for us so that we wouldn’t have to be broken apart by sin.
2. Present: We encounter the living Christ through the Holy Spirit, experiencing His presence right now among His people.
3. Future: We anticipate the day of His return, proclaiming “until He comes,” when all things will be fully restored.

Like memorial stones in the Old Testament or the Passover meal that Jesus transformed, our worship songs serve as “musical memorial stones.” They help us recall God’s faithfulness, experience His presence, and hope for His return.

A Sacramental Perspective

God works through ordinary elements—bread, wine, water, and yes, even music. He takes these everyday things and infuses them with His presence and glory. Our melodies, harmonies, and rhythms become containers for the divine.

When we gather at the Lord’s Table or lift our voices in worship, we stand as equals before Christ. We bring nothing but our response of thanksgiving—eucharisteo—to the one who has given everything. As Glenn Packiam beautifully puts it, “We don’t bring a side dish of our good works” to this meal. Jesus has provided everything required.

For Reflection

1. How might viewing worship as both remembrance and encounter change how you approach your next time of corporate singing?
2. In what ways has God been “re-membering” the broken parts of your life?
3. When you think about Jesus’ return, what emotions and hopes arise? How might this future anticipation inform your present worship?
4. What aspects of the Christian story might you be overlooking in your personal devotion or corporate worship?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of remembrance. As we break bread and share the cup, as we lift our voices in song, help us to remember Your sacrifice with grateful hearts. Send Your Spirit to make these ordinary moments extraordinary encounters with Your presence. And kindle in us a greater longing for Your return, when all that is broken will be made whole. We give thanks for Your covenant faithfulness, written in Your own blood. Amen.