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Anxiety (Worry)

Life is full of many concerns stemming from the absence of certainty and control of our future. While we can never be completely free from worry, the Bible shows us how to minimize it in our lives. Philippians 4:6-7 says do not worry about anything, but with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God, and then the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Believers are commanded to pray about life’s worries. These prayers are to be more than requests for favorable answers. They are to include thanksgiving and praise along with the needs. Praying in this way reminds us of the many blessings God continually gives us whether we ask or not. This reminds us of God’s great love for us and that he knows and does what is best for us.

Worry is proportional to our sense of security. When life is going as planned and we feel safe in our life routines, then worries subside. Likewise worry increases when we feel threatened and insecure or are overly focused on and committed to some result. First Peter 5:7 says cast your cares upon Jesus because he cares for you. The practice of believers is to take our worries to Jesus in prayer and leave them with him. This reinforces our dependence on, and faith in, Jesus.

Worries increase when we become focused on the things of this world. Jesus said the treasures of this world are subject to decay and can be taken away, but heavenly treasures are secure.1 Therefore, set your priorities on God and not on money.2 Man worries about such things as having food and clothes but is given life by God. God provides life without which the concerns of life are meaningless. Worry can cause ulcers and mental problems that can have destructive health effects that shorten life. No amount of worry will add even one hour to one’s life.3 Therefore, why worry? The Bible teaches that we should deal with each day’s problems when they occur and not be obsessed with future concerns that may not happen.4 In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus visits the house of the sisters Martha and Mary. Martha was busy with many details regarding making Jesus and his disciples comfortable. Mary, on the other hand, was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to what he said. Martha complained to Jesus that Mary should be busy helping, but Jesus told Martha that “…you are worried and anxious about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”5 What is this one thing that freed Mary from the business and worries experienced by her sister? Mary chose to focus on Jesus, listen to him, and ignore the immediate demands of hospitality. I do not believe that Mary was being irresponsible; rather, she wanted to experience and learn from Jesus first, and later, when he was done speaking, she would fulfill her duties. Mary had her priorities straight. Put God first, and he will free us from worries and take care of the rest of our concerns. his way reminds us of the many blessings God continually gives us whether we ask or not. This reminds us of God’s great love for us and that he knows and does what is best for us. Worry is proportional to our sense of security. When life is going as planned and we feel safe in our life routines, then worries subside. Likewise worry increases when we feel threatened and insecure or are overly focused on and committed to some result. First Peter 5:7 says cast your cares upon Jesus because he cares for you. The practice of believers is to take our worries to Jesus in prayer and leave them with him. This reinforces our dependence on, and faith in, Jesus. 


1 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (Mt 6:19)
2 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Mt 6:24)
3 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Mt 6:27)
4 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Mt 6:34)
5 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”(Lk 10:41-42)  



Communion

Communion is one of two ordinances that Jesus gave to believers, the other is baptism. Unlike baptism, which is typically a one-time event in the life of a Christian, Communion is to be repeated throughout the life of each believer.1 The term Communion is used to describe this ordinance and is not found in the Bible. So what is Communion? Some aspects are clearly described in the Bible, while others are metaphorical, mystical, and cannot be completely defined or understood. First, let’s examine what is clearly stated. The bread and wine are reminders of the body and blood sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.2 Even more than this, taking Communion is a public (and private) identification with Christ as Savior and a proclamation of faith in his return.3 There are mystical aspects to Communion as well. It is important to prepare mentally prior to taking Communion to be sure that the sacrifice of Jesus is discerned and appreciated.4 If Communion is taken in an unworthy manner, there will be grave consequences. Paul says God will judge those who do not take Communion properly and that our relationship with God will become weak and damaged (i.e. sick). What does it mean to take Communion properly? The bread and wine are physical emblems of his broken body and his blood poured out as a peace offering for those who have accepted this as the exclusive means of satisfying the wrath of God caused by our sins. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins and that the penalty for sins is death.5 Jesus satisfied these conditions through his death on the cross for those who accept this sacrifice as their own. Believers become part of an action by Jesus in one point in time that transcends time in that it enables people throughout time to be called forgiven and worthy to be in the presence of God.6 Therefore, in a spiritual sense, believers were with Jesus when he made atonement for sins. This is why Paul says he is crucified with Christ (in a spiritual and positional sense), nevertheless he lives, but in a new condition with the spirit of Christ indwelling, renewing and guiding him in a transformed life.7 Communion symbolizes the hope believers have for righteousness and a restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Taking Communion is a reminder of the great love of Jesus and the great cost he was willing to pay to provide a future perfect relationship with those who believe in him.8 Communion should fill every believer with gratitude, awe, hope, humility, and wonder at the great lengths that Jesus took in leaving heaven to take the form of a carpenter’s son, to live the life we could not, and experience death on behalf of all mankind! Communion is a celebration of the love relationship made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus that is both intimately personal and communal.

There is much more to Communion that defies description and must be experienced. I will attempt to describe some of the metaphorical and mystical aspects as I have experienced them. Communion has nurturing, strengthening, encouraging, and identity aspects. It abounds with symbolism that describes some of its mystical qualities. Bread is a basic food that sustains physical life. I believe Jesus chose this food to teach that he gives and sustains the spiritual life of believers. Jesus identifies his body with the bread of Communion.9 The breaking of bread during Communion is a picture of the broken body of Jesus sacrificed on the cross.

During Communion, large pieces of bread are generally broken into smaller ones that are consumed by the participants. This is a picture of how Jesus enters into the core of each believer and, just as the bread is digested and becomes part of the body, so does Jesus become one with each believer. This also is an illustration of the unity of believers in Jesus Christ. The same bread becomes transformed into many believers who are nourished by the same physical bread. Jesus said he is the spiritual bread that gives life to those who come to him and believe in him.10 The spiritual parallel is that believers share the presence of the Holy Spirit and are transformed by accepting the broken body of Jesus as a sacrifice for their sins. Bread not only sustains, but it also strengthens the body to do work. Likewise, Communion strengthens, encourages, and deepens devotion to Jesus, increasing resolve to serve him.

The wine also has similar symbolic elements of unity, intimacy, and transformation. In addition, the wine is associated with the blood of Christ, which covers the sins of believers. Wine marks or stains what it contacts and is symbolic of the fact that believers have been marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Wine also has cleansing and healing connotations, which are reminders of the sin atonement of Christ’s blood.

Communion is a celebration of the presence of Christ in believers, with the focus being the awesome love and goodness of Jesus in redeeming and transforming those who accept his sacrifice for their sins. It is a unique and intensely personal way to encounter God, and thus believers are encouraged to participate regularly!


1 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
2 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This is my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Lk 22:19-20)
3 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Cor 11:26)
4 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the sup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord, eats and drinks judgment on himself. (1 Cor 11:27-29)
5 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Heb 9:22) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23) 6 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let 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. (Heb 10:19-22)
7 I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20)
8 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2)
9 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, “Take it; this is my body.” (Mk 14:22)
10 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Jn 6:32-35)