The Miracle Table: REDISCOVERING THE POWER OF COMMUNION

by Andrew Murray

In all of these scriptures the Greek word Eucharisteo is used, which is where we get our word Eucharist from. It effectively means three things - to be thankful, to feel grateful, and to give thanks. Just pause for a moment and think about that. To be. To feel. To give. To be - we are grateful. This is who I am, my identity as I approach the Table. I am thankful, I am grateful for all that Jesus has done, all that the Father gave, all that is available through the Spirit. To feel - this is not just a cold, religious ceremony. I feel something. My heart has been set on fire with this love and I burn with thankfulness and gratitude. Thankfulness, praise, and worship fill my entire being. To give - this is my response. I am not just a grateful person who feels thankful, I actually give thanks. I open my mouth and give thanks to Him in prayer and song. I also give Him my heart, my affection, my very life. This is my thankful response to all that He has done. The word Eucharisteo also contains within it another Greek word ‘charis’ which is translated in English ‘grace.’ The word charis itself also contains within it the word chara, which means ‘joy.’ Putting these different translations and words together, we can sum up how God expects us to break bread and drink wine like this: I am grateful for all that God has done for me. My heart burns and bursts with thankfulness because of the amazing grace that I have received in Jesus. Now through the joy of the Holy Spirit...