My daughter Emily has told me that one of the most important things we do in our home to make it safe and joyful is what we call “Family Communion”. The apostle Paul makes the distinction of having the Lord’s table at home before coming to church where communion is served. The reality is that when we prepare our hearts at home, which is a microcosm of the church universal, we will be prepared to walk in the light when we get to church so we can have fellowship with one another.

This moment of every week is set aside as a safe time and place to demonstrate God’s love one to another. It is a place where people feel safe to follow Matthew 5:24 and 18:15-19. If we have trespassed against one another, then we leave our gift at the altar and make things right. If a brother or sister, mom or dad has offended you and you haven’t been successful in sharing your heart in private, then now is the time to bring it up in a spirit of gentleness and meekness so they can be restored. As we become of one heart, one mind, and come together in one accord, we will see the power of God released in and through our family. Once we have reconciled our issues Jesus tells us, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” – (Matthew 18:18-19 KJV) We can symphonize with God, we are in harmony with Him and we can see His power released on the earth.

When we are able to reconcile our issues and do what the apostle John urges us to do, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” – (1 John 1:5-10 KJV) then we no longer need to justify ourselves by blaming others, or blaming ourselves. The wall of sin that has separated us is once again torn down and we can have fellowship one with another. We can love with a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

Posted by Chris Hogan on Tuesday, March 01, 2011 at 00:00 AM