Communion & Offering

Matthew 26:20-25 New American Standard Bible (NASB)20 Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22 Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” 25 And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”All around the world, each Sunday, Christians gather together at this table to pause & take time to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us & the hope we have in His dying in our place for our sins. While this is a privilege to be part of a body of Christ & share in communion with our loved ones & neighbors, you don't have to wait until Sunday. You can do this anywhere at any time. Any day of the week, we can stop, do a self examination, confess our sins, & ask for forgiveness. Jesus knows our heart. He knows whether or not we are sincere. He knows whether you are just going through religious ceremony or whether you have a contrite heart. He doesn't take pleasure in religious ceremony, but He does take pleasure in our feeling or expressing remorse or the action of showing sorrow & regret for having done wrong; repentance affected by guilt. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)Proverbs 28:27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)27 He who gives to the poor will never want,But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.Proverbs are principles; not promises. So, there is no biblical law that guarantees if you give generously, you will never want or have need of anything in this world, but what is true almost universally is that those who are not enamored with or motivated by material gain or goods & who are generous & giving & have a heart for the poor don't seem to have a lot of wants. They seem to be content with whatever it is God gives them, whether it is a thousand sheep on a hill or one little ewe lamb.Before you give, today, whatever it is you have purposed in your heart to give, can you give a little more? Ask yourself what your plans for your money are. Are they of eternal significance or for temporary significance?