The word for this week is "communion". We usually think first of the Communion Service with the bread and juice, but we'll be looking at three verses for this word. The first is found in 2 Corinthians 6:14:
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness? KJV
This is the Greek word "koinonia". Strong's Concordance says: partnership; participation or social intercourse. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: fellowship; association; community; joint participation; contact. The Theological Dictionary adds: participation; impartation or fellowship. We can see that this involves action on the part of those having this communion! It also involves a sharing and a union together. We could say that communing with someone also involves identification with them. That aspect is shown more clearly in the Amplified Bible:
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mis-mated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? AMP
Identification also helps in understanding 1 Corinthians 10:16:
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? KJV
We identify with Jesus in His death on the cross as though we ourselves were there with Him! In this way we can expect to also identify in and share with Him in all good things! The Complete Jewish Bible makes this more clear:
16 The “cup of blessing” over which we make the b’rakhah — isn’t it a sharing in the bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah? The bread we break, isn’t it a sharing in the body of the Messiah? CJB
This brings us to the blessing Paul gave to the church in 2 Corinthians 13:14:
14 The grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship (the communion and sharing together, and participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it). AMP
The next time you participate in a Communion Service, remember that God sees it as though YOU were on the cross with Jesus! He sees you as a joint, equal heir in all good things with Jesus Himself (Romans 8:17)! He has imparted His nature into you and caused YOU to sit in heavenly places IN CHRIST (2 Peter 1:1; Ephesians 2:6)! What a wonderful word communion is! When you and Kristine share fellowship, love and communion together, your marriage grows even stronger! When you both "commune" with your daughters, imparting your love and wisdom and instruction to them, your family unit becomes stronger and you enable them to grow in faith in you and in God! Such a powerful word! Have a wonderful week communing with those you love, especially Jesus! Here is Hillsong with a song from their "Songs For Communion" album called "Life":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
