Our Lord’s Memorial

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Short Summary
The discourse reflects on the significance of the Lord’s Memorial, emphasizing the privilege of understanding and commemorating Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and the divine plan it reveals. It highlights lessons from the Passover as a type of spiritual deliverance, the importance of obedience, humility, and reliance on God’s power, and encourages participants to maintain faith, unity, and a mindset modeled on Christ as they continue their spiritual journey. The discourse calls for continual remembrance of God’s mighty hand, appreciation of the ransom sacrifice, and dedication to following Christ with hope for future blessings for all mankind.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on “Our Lord’s Memorial”

Theme and Occasion:
– The discourse centers on the annual commemoration of Jesus Christ’s death, often referred to as “Our Lord’s Memorial.”
– The speaker expresses joy at gathering for convention and preparing to commemorate the Savior’s life and sacrifice.
– Reflection is made on those who have passed on but are expected to partake in the resurrection and future blessings.

Spiritual Growth and Decreasing Numbers:
– Acknowledges the decreasing number of faithful participants over the years, paralleling John the Baptist’s words: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
– This decrease is seen as necessary within the divine plan.

The Mystery of God’s Plan:
– The audience is described as the “new creation,” with a special interest in the spiritual significance of the first Passover and Old Testament types.
– The events of Egypt and Israel’s deliverance are understood as foreshadowing greater spiritual truths regarding the antitypical spiritual Israel.
– 1 Corinthians 2:9 is cited: _“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”_

Identity and Purpose:
– Believers are reminded they are God’s people, not of this world (as Jesus was not), and that life has a greater purpose beyond present experiences.
– Maintaining balance is crucial: to be compassionate like Jesus (Matthew 14:14) but not overwhelmed by worldly cares (Luke 21:34).
– Progress in spiritual growth is expected with God’s help.

Importance of the Memorial and Biblical Typology:
– The memorial is more than a yearly event; it is a continual reminder to look unto Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
– The Old Testament types, especially the Passover, were divinely arranged to teach future generations.
– The deliverance of Israel from Egypt typifies spiritual deliverance through Christ.

Exodus Passages and Their Spiritual Application:
– Exodus 13:3, 8–9, 14: Moses commands remembrance of coming out of Egypt—symbolizing deliverance from sin and bondage.
– Passages emphasize teaching children and others about God’s mighty hand, as in Psalm 126:3.
– The sacrifice and redemption of the firstborn in Egypt foreshadow Christ and the redeemed firstborn class.
– Deuteronomy 11:18 stresses internalizing God’s words as a sign “upon your hand” and “between your eyes,” symbolizing influence on actions and thoughts.

God’s Mighty Power:
– The power that delivered Israel is the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:17–20) and is available to believers for spiritual strength.
– Psalm 20:6–7 and Hebrews 12:12 encourage trust in God’s power and perseverance.
– 1 Peter 5:6 calls for humility under God’s mighty hand for future exaltation.

Lessons from Israel’s History:
– Israel’s forgetfulness and backsliding after deliverance warn believers not to take God’s blessings for granted.
– The Jews are being prepared for an earthly kingdom role, having faith like Abraham.
– Believers are being prepared for the highest heavenly role; humility, faith, and obedience are essential.

Human Frailty and Divine Mercy:
– Psalm 103:10,14 reminds of God’s mercy and understanding of human weakness.
– Romans 8:28 encourages confidence that all things work together for good for those who love God.
– Proverbs 24:16 teaches resilience: “A just man falls seven times, and rises up again.”

Mindset and Obedience:
– Spiritual success requires a transformed mind (Romans 12:2) and reliance on the Holy Spirit’s power.
– Philippians 2:5–8 highlights Christ’s mindset of obedience, even to death on the cross.
– The Passover type illustrates obedience leading to deliverance; disobedience leads to delay or loss of blessings.

Commemorating the Memorial:
– The memorial celebrates Christ’s sacrifice, making believers worthy through His merit.
– Revelation 5:12 declares, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”
– The memorial is both a remembrance of Christ’s death and a participation in the “mystery” of Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:32; Colossians 1:26–27).
– 1 Corinthians 10:11 states these Old Testament examples were written “for our admonition.”

The Mystery of the Body of Christ:
– The fellowship and communion of believers as one body under Christ is a key aspect of the memorial (1 Corinthians 11:29).
– This understanding fosters sympathy among members and compassion for the spiritually blind world.
– Unlike Jesus, who had no spirit-begotten companions during his ministry, believers today support each other.

Personal Reflection and Dedication:
– The memorial also recalls each believer’s consecration (their “death baptism”) to follow Christ.
– The continuing journey involves challenges, tests, and opportunities to grow in Christlikeness.
– Psalm 116:12–14 exhorts believers to ponder God’s blessings, take the cup of salvation, and pay vows to the Lord.

Final Encouragement:
– The fact believers are still faithful and on the “narrow way” is evidence of God’s continued favor.
– The memorial emblems symbolize gratitude for God’s deliverance through Christ and a renewed commitment to the Christian walk.
– The speaker prays for God’s blessing that the memorial observance be in harmony with His will.

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Key Bible Verses Cited:

– John 3:30 — _“He must increase, but I must decrease.”_
– 1 Corinthians 2:9 — _“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard… the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”_
– Matthew 14:14 — _Jesus was moved with compassion on the multitudes._
– Luke 21:34 — _Do not be overcharged with the cares of this life._
– Hebrews 12:2 — _“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”_
– Exodus 13:3, 8–9, 14, 16 — _Remembering deliverance from Egypt._
– Deuteronomy 11:18 — _Bind God’s words as a sign upon your hand and as frontlets between your eyes._
– Psalm 126:3 — _“What great things the Lord hath done for us.”_
– Psalm 20:6–7 — _“The Lord Jehovah saveth his anointed… we will remember the name of the Lord Jehovah our God.”_
– Ephesians 1:17–20 — _The exceeding greatness of God’s power toward believers._
– Hebrews 12:12 — _“Lift up the hands which hang down…”_
– 1 Peter 5:6 — _“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.”_
– Psalm 103:10,14 — _God’s mercy and knowledge of our frame._
– Romans 8:28 — _“All things work together for good to them that love God.”_
– Proverbs 24:16 — _“A just man falls seven times and rises up again.”_
– Romans 12:2 — _“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”_
– Philippians 2:5–8 — _“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus… obedient unto death.”_
– Revelation 5:12 — _“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”_
– Matthew 13:11 — _“It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven…”_
– Ephesians 5:32 — _“This is a great mystery… concerning Christ and the church.”_
– Colossians 1:26–27 — _“The mystery which hath been hid… Christ in you, the hope of glory.”_
– 1 Corinthians 10:11 — _“These things were written for our admonition.”_
– 1 Corinthians 11:29 — _“He that eateth and drinketh unworthily… eateth and drinketh damnation to himself.”_
– Psalm 116:12–14 — _“What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?… I will take the cup of salvation…”_

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Summary:

This discourse powerfully connects the ancient Passover deliverance with the Christian memorial of Christ’s death, emphasizing obedience, humility, and reliance on God’s mighty power. It encourages believers to maintain a proper mindset, appreciate their unique understanding and privileges, and to strengthen unity and sympathy within the body of Christ. The memorial is not only a solemn remembrance but a celebration of hope, deliverance, and the mystery of being partakers in Christ’s sacrifice and future glory.

Transcript

As was stated, the title is our Lord’s Memorial. We rejoice in this privilege of gathering together once again at convention to consider the commemoration of the life and death of our dear Savior, which will take place in just a few short days from now. As we look back on the past few years and even this past year, we think of those who are no longer with us on this side of the veil to partake with us here. But we rejoice in their prospects to partake anew with our Lord and the other resurrected saints on the other side of the veil. Each year we are fewer and fewer, but we know that that’s necessary.

Just as, as John the Baptist said, we must he must increase, but I must decrease prophetically stated that John 3, verse 30, and no doubt you remember these important words from Volume 6, page 457. 457. The members of the new creation are interested in the events connected with the first Passover, as they are interested in all the doings and arrangements of their heavenly Father, both in respect to his typical people, Israel after the flesh, and in respect to the whole world of mankind. But the new creation has a still deeper interest in those matters which occurred in Egypt, in view of the fact that the Lord has revealed to them the mystery that those things which happened unto natural Israel were intended to typify and foreshadow still grander things in the Divine plan respecting anatypical spiritual Israel.

The new creation End of that quotation Dear brethren, what a privilege we have to understand the mystery, and more than this, we have been invited to be partakers of the mystery class. This is truly one of the grander things of the Divine plan, the full import of which it is really impossible to grasp. As First Corinthians 2, 9 says, I have not seen nor ear heard, nor neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, and of course we know that that eventually is going to be true for the world of mankind as well.

And so at this time of year it is always good to remember who we are and why we are here. Not only why we’re gathered here at this convention and why we will gather together on Tuesday evening, but also in the general sense, simply put, we are God’s people, and we are here to learn. We are not of this world, even as Jesus was not of this world. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is a great blessing to realize that this present life is not all there is. We must remember the purpose of our lives.

This will help us to not become overwhelmed in our experiences, but rather to draw from them the lessons God has in mind for us. Well, there is a careful balance that must be maintained. We’re in the world, but not of it. We are to be moved with compassion upon the multitudes, as Jesus was. Matthew 14:14 but we are not to be overcharged with the cares of this life.

Luke 21:34 maintaining this balance is not an easy task, and we should not become discouraged if it is in fact a difficult struggle. But hopefully with the Lord’s help, we will be able to see some progress year after year.

The foregoing factors and many others explain why the Lord asked us to partake of this memorial and to participate in the annual study and meditation that goes with it. We need this reminder not just on Tuesday evening, but throughout the entire year. We need to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, as our ideal. Hebrews 12:2 we need to remember the important mission that the Lord has sent us on. God’s people over the past 6,000 years have been participating in a grand lesson for all eternity.

Those who preceded us, especially the Jews, had much less understanding of God’s purposes than we have. We admire their faithfulness in performing rituals for which they had no explanation. They did not realize how important their actions then would be for God’s people today. The story of the type in general is inspiring to consider in this respect.

God caused those of past ages to paint pictures for our benefit. Much of the Old Testament is written with this purpose in view. They should prompt us to reflect on what God has done for us.

Lord’s people of the present time in particular are very small group numbering only in the thousands yet and here’s an awesome thought. We are the primary reason that much of the Bible was written. It’s true we believe the Bible will have a future place in the Kingdom, but in some ways that is secondary. Now on the surface to some this might seem egotistical, but if we are right minded, for us it is not egotistical. It is humbling because we know that we are not worthy.

Nowhere in these Old Testament types is this concept better shown than in the Passover picture. There was a literal deliverance associated with the type and this was all that the natural Israelites were permitted to see. But by the grace of God we have the privilege of understanding its fuller meaning.

We’ll begin with reading some verses from Exodus chapter 13. We’ll start with verse three and Moses said unto the people, remember this day in which you came out from Egypt out of the house of bondage. For by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place. We are God’s people. We too have been brought out of the house of bondage by the mighty hand of God.

How often do we remember this fact? How often do we meditate upon it? You know, for some of us who came out of the world, this coming out of the house of bondage has an even deeper impact. Verses 8 and 9 of Exodus 13 and thou shalt show thy son in that day, saying, this is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt, and it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth.

For with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. Dear brethren, we should carry this memorial with us every day of the year. We should pass it on to our children and to those around us that have a hearing ear. We should tell them, as it says in Psalms 126, verse 3, what great things the Lord hath done for us. Continue in Exodus 13, verse 14.

And it shall be when thy Son asketh thee in time to come, saying, what is this that thou shall say unto him by strength of hand? The Lord that’s Jehovah brought us out from Egypt from the house of bondage.

We should be ready to give an answer to those who ask us concerning our hope. As we’re reminded in 1st Peter 3, verse 15, we should be willing, yes, anxious to tell of the power of God that has worked in our lives.

Exodus 13, verse 15, and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all firstborn males, but all the for firstborn of my children I redeem.

How beautifully this illustrates the redemption of the firstborn class in advance of the world of mankind. The nation of Israel were only permitted to see their deliverance from Egypt. As a nation. Some may have understood that this foreshadowed a still greater deliverance under Messiah. But none of those on that first passover night had any conception of the typical role of that the firstborn were illustrating.

The vast majority of those who name the name of Christ today also do not understand. It’s our privilege to know this, and not only to know it, but to partake of the reality.

Exodus 13:16, and that shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontless between thine eyes. For by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 11, verse 18 is even more powerfully stated. Therefore shall you lay up these words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.

Well, brethren, if. If it was important for the typical people of God to lay up these words in their hearts and in their very being, how much more important is it for us to do the same?

To be as a token on the hand shows the effect of this remembrance that it should have upon our activities. As frontless between our eyes shows the effect this remembrance should have upon our minds. But Moses, under divine inspiration, shows the added effect upon our hearts and upon our very being.

The various expressions repeated in these verses all point to one great truth for the Jews, the mighty power of God that delivered them from bondage.

Well, this is. This is a beautiful general lesson, and it’s one that all mankind will someday appreciate and take to heart and participate in. But we know that there is a special sense in which it applies to us because we are the antitypical firstborn, and because that same mighty power is pledged on our behalf. The same mighty power that slew the firstborn of the Egyptians, the same mighty power that protected the firstborn of Israel, the same mighty power that parted the Red Sea. This mighty power is used on behalf of you and me.

Psalm 20, verses 6 and 7. Now know I that the Lord Jehovah saveth his anointed. He will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord Jehovah our God.

We read from Ephesians 1, verses 17 to 20.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being lightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward, who believe according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.

Well, dear brethren, as I’m sure you know, the power that’s been available on our behalf is far greater than that, than anything that was manifest on behalf of Israel. We know that, but how much do we really appreciate it and take it to heart? The apostle tells us it is the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead. These promises concerning the power of God available to us on a daily basis, should inspire us, strengthen us and encourage us. As stated in Hebrews 12:12.

Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees.

There’s another aspect of the mighty hand of God to ponder as well. As stated in 1st Peter, chapter 5, verse 6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. We want to keep in the forefronts of our minds, as stated in those other verses, as frontless between our eyes. We want to keep in our minds the great deliverance which God has wrought on our behalf and never take it for granted.

Why do we need to say that? Because we have examples from the past, especially with the nation of Israel. They soon forgot the miracles that God wrought on their behalf. We must be sure that we don’t do the same thing. Within a few short days, they were begging to go back to the bondage of Egypt.

But the experiences they had were necessary for their future position. Yes, the future position of the Jews. I believe that the Jews, those who had the faith of Abraham in particular as a people, were being trained and are still being trained for a future role in the earthly kingdom. We don’t often think about this, but that’s what pyramid Z in the millennial age lowercase Z on the chart of the ages is all about. They still have a great humbling experience yet before them.

And it’s only those who have the faith of Abraham that will pass that test, that will be the faithful remnant.

They have been humbled in order that in due time they might be exalted as a people. How much more important for us who are being prepared for the highest possible role in the heavenly kingdom? Is it to be humbled under the mighty hand of God and our deliverance is not just to benefit ourselves, but ultimately it will benefit the whole world of mankind.

Brethren, we must be careful to guard well our humility and to follow God closely and to be full of faith and trust. When Israel followed this rule, what was the result? They had great victories and made great progress. But when they failed, it was just the reverse. We know this from their experiences.

They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, but nevertheless, God did not abandon them. He eventually led them to the promised land. So too for us. Well, we have all I Think all of us have had wondering experiences in the course of our lives. I know I have.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins. He has not punished us according to our iniquities. Psalm 103, verse 10. He’s merciful, long suffering and patient, and you know that verse from Psalm 103.

14. He knows our frame, that we are but dust. Even the wilderness wanderings we might have are a valuable, growing experience for us. Truly, all things work together for good to them that love God. Romans 8, 28, and one of my favorite scriptures.

A just man falls seven times and rises up again. Proverbs 24, verse 16, and now here’s a very important point. To be successful, we must. We must reach beyond ourselves.

We must have an ideal that is higher than we can conceive of in our own finite reasoning. We must be transformed by the renewing of our minds, as it states in Romans 12:2, and we must tap into a power that is beyond ourselves, the power of the Holy Spirit. You know, that’s something that is bigger than I can express in words. The world doesn’t have this privilege.

And again, anybody who’s come from the world knows that if all you have to depend on is yourself, yourself, it. It’s a difficult situation, but we don’t have that problem. We can tap into that power that is beyond ourselves. But this involves a mindset, and it’s one that is expressed in Philippians 2, verse 5, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. But we need to ask the question, what mindset did Jesus have?

The context shows that a principal ingredient of this mindset was obedience. Obedience unto death, even the death of the cross, as stated in Philippians 2, verse 8. This lesson of obedience is shown in many ways in the Passover type. The Israelites on that first Passover night were obedient, and as a consequence, they were delivered.

They partook of the Lamb, they stayed under the blood, they remained in the household, and the nation of Israel was obedient at the Red Sea. Now, that wasn’t without some doubts and fears on their part, but they were delivered as a consequence, and by contrast, it was because of their disobedience that deliverance was sometimes, what would we say? Deferred. But it was not forgotten.

The brethren, what we will celebrate, or part of what we will celebrate on Tuesday evening, is embodied in the events of that first Passover and the days that followed.

What are those lessons?

There are lessons of obedience and disobedience, lessons of deliverance, and wandering, lessons of humility and exaltation, and lessons of chastening and correction. All these lessons show the mighty hand of God working on behalf of his people.

Israel was a house of servants. By contrast, we are a house of sons. They did not know the reason for their experiences and for the illustrations that they portrayed. But as it says in First Corinthians 10:11, these things were written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come, and we think that that verse has a special significance for us living at this time in the overlapping of the ages, in the harvest of the Gospel age.

We have the privilege of knowing, we have the privilege of understanding, and we have the privilege of rejoicing in the tithe. In addition, we have the far grander privilege, if we’re faithful, of participating in the reality, the anitype. But that has a beginning Here.

May we all partake of the feast with an even keener realization that we have no personal worthiness, but that our worthiness comes from God through the sacrifice of his only begotten son. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. Revelation 5:12. He’s the only one that was worthy. No one else was worthy.

Not the apostles and not us, and may we ever keep before our minds the ultimate objective of our present lives, which is the blessing of all the families of the earth. So there’s a number of things that we should try to bear in mind when we celebrate on Tuesday evening. The sacrifice of our Lord that made it possible, our privilege of entering into a covenant by sacrifice, the deliverance that results, and the mighty hand of God behind it all. Dear brethren, for the past several months we have endeavored to prepare our hearts and minds in order to keep the feast.

As it says in First Corinthians 5, verse 8, none is worthy. That point needs to be emphasized. There’s none righteous. No, not one. We were all born in sin and shapen in iniquity.

But what are we going to celebrate on Tuesday evening? What we are going to celebrate, of course, it’s the death of our Lord Jesus. But that’s the thing which makes us worthy. We celebrate the thing that makes us worthy, the death of our Lord Jesus. That is why we have hope.

You know, I’ve heard some brethren speak in the past where they would say, well, I don’t know if I should partake of the memorial because I don’t feel worthy. Well, if that was a valid objection, then none of us should partake of the memorial. But it’s not because we have been made worthy through the merit of our Lord Jesus Christ. The primary and most important celebration is the death of Jesus. It it’s that death that opens up the way for all who will have life on any plane, not only us, during the gospel age, but, you know, for the world of mankind during the in the future.

Now, here’s an interesting point to reflect upon. Millions now end in the past have accepted and celebrated this aspect of Christ’s death. But by the grace of God, we have a clear understanding which differentiates us from the millions who call themselves Christians, but who are blinded to the full truth, and that is not their fault. Now is not the time for them to come to an understanding of the divine plan and the ransom which is at the center of that plan.

But it is our privilege to know and appreciate this great truth in this primary way. We can keep the feast by a continuing appreciation of the sacrifice of Jesus, and that’s the first and foremost aspect of the memorial supper. It is a celebration of the ransom sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. It is a commemoration of his death, baptism, which was the three and a half years from Jordan to Calvary, the three and a half years of his earthly ministry.

But anybody who’s a careful student of this, and particularly as it’s related in volume six, that chapter on the Passover, knows something. There’s a secondary significance that is part of our memorial meditations, and it makes a distinction between nominal and true believers even more pronounced. We talked about mysteries before, and you know the world, and I was raised Roman Catholic, many of you know, and we were taught that a mystery is something that cannot be understood. Well, that’s not what the Bible says, because the mysteries of God have been revealed to us, and there’s one mystery in particular, and we have a number of scriptures to prove that.

Matthew 13:11. It is given unto you to know the mysteries, but to them that is unbelievers, it is not given, and in Ephesians 5:32 it reveals that mystery. This is a great mystery. I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Colossians 1:26, 27. This is the mystery that was hid from ages and generations, which is Christ in you the hope of glory, and we have the promise of the fellowship of the mystery. Ephesians 3:9. This is truly a grand privilege.

The understanding of this mystery opens up a broad new vista before our minds. It’s the privilege of walking in the footsteps of Jesus to be dead with Christ, baptized into his death, to suffer with him, that we might reign with him for the purpose of Blessing all this is the communion of the body and blood of Christ, and we know that word means common union, common participation, joint sacrifices, acceptable only through the blood of Christ to be members of his body. Yes, we are able to discern the Lord’s body as stated in First Corinthians 11:29, and it’s not whether this one or that one is in the body or not in the body, but it’s to understand this wonderful mystery and its privileges.

It’s because we understand this that we can keep the feast. It’s because we understand this that we can have sympathy for the blinded masses, and it’s because we understand this that we can have sympathy with the fellow members, and that is a very important aspect, especially in the time in which we are living. As stated at the beginning, we’re fewer and fewer each year, and the trouble around us is getting worse and worse.

How much we need the unity of the body and the sympathy that we gain from one another.

And what a contrast we had with, we have with our Lord Jesus. Jesus had no one to sympathize with him in this way. There was no one else that was spirit begotten at that time. They couldn’t understand. Not until Pentecost did that understanding begin.

But brethren, we have one another.

The world doesn’t understand us, even as it did not understand Jesus.

So Tuesday evening is also an occasion to remember our own death Baptism, our consecration to be dead with Christ, to follow in his footsteps. Each year presents us with fresh challenges, new tests, increased opportunities. May we continue to pray. So teach us to number our days, to count each day as so many blessings, privileges and opportunities to render assistance to one another in this pilgrim journey and to become more and more copies of of God’s dear Son.

And now another important point, The fact that we’re all still here. You know, we raised the question at the beginning, who are we and why are we here? And the fact that we are here is significant. The fact that each of us is still walking in the narrow way is a demonstration that the Lord has brought us this far. He’s still dealing with us.

In spite of our many failings, we are still his because we are accepted in the Beloved.

How thankful we should be to partake of the emblems, showing our appreciation of what God through Christ has done for us, and showing our desire to continue on in this narrow way and to rededicate ourselves to be dead with Christ in the morning. Resolve. We have the scriptures from Psalm 116, verses 12 to 14, and we want to remember these. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

So, brethren, as we partake of the emblems this year, may we keep these things in our hearts and minds so that we may indeed keep the feast. May the Lord add His blessing and overrule anything not in accord with his will. Back to you, brother John.

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