Hymn 308 - Invited, Lord, By Boundless Grace

This weekend we come to the end of the Easter Season. We will also be celebrating the Lord's Supper in our service this weekend. As we do so, we will consider a communion hymn instead of an Easter hymn.

There are several words that we associate with the Lord's Supper. We call it a Sacrament, which is a holy act, instituted by Christ, has an earthly element connected to God's Word, and imparts a blessing from God, namely forgiveness of sin, life and salvation. We also refer to it as Holy Communion based on Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. Lutherans teach the Real Presence of the Lord's Supper, in contrast to the Roman Catholic teaching of Transubstantiation or the Reformed view of Representation. This is the clear teaching of Scripture based on 1 Corinthians 11:23-27, where Paul says that we receive Christ's body and His blood, but also receive with our mouths the earthly elements of bread and wine.

This hymn highlights several important truths about the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. First, it reinforces what the Sacrament is. The hymnwriter states: "As Host You spread no common food, here is Your body and Your blood" (verse 1), but also "this bread and cup my lips have pressed" (verse 2). This is the Real Presence.

He also tells us that the Lord's Supper is not an action of man, but of God. We receive the blessings that God gives in this Sacrament. "Where pardon, peace, and life are spent" and "You bless, and my soul is blessed" (verse 2). This blessing from God motivates us and strengthens us for lives of service to Him. "Now let me as Your guest depart... a new life may my offering be" (verse 3).

Our prayer is that God would work in us through His word and sacrament to keep us in the faith until He returns on the last day, when we "as Your heavenly guest, in anthems praise You with the blessed" (verse 4).

This hymn serves to remind us about why we come to the Lord's Table. It teaches us what it is. It assures us of what God offers through it. As such it encourages us to come to the Lord's Supper and receive His blessing for our eternal blessing.

May the LORD bless your worship this weekend, as well as Your reception of His precious sacrament!

 

he Lord's Day is a term found in Revelation, which referred to Sunday. The early Christians called the first day of the week the Lord's Day, because it was on that day that the Lord had risen from the dead. He was the victor! It was now HIS day!

This hymn by Julia Elliott does several creative things. First it uses the Biblical idea of light vs. darkness in each of the verses, tying this concept to three different historical events: The creation of Light, the resurrection of Jesus, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. With each verse she focuses on a different person of the Triune God. And in each verse she points out that we pray that our Triune God would continue His work of bringing light into our dark lives and world through the Gospel. 

Ephesians 5:13-17 serves as part of the basis for this beautiful hymn. There Paul writes: "But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."  

Join us in our study of this hymn and its writer, and as we learn more about the Scriptural foundation and meaning of our hymns so that our use of them would be more beneficial as we gather in worship and use this hymn of praise.

May the LORD bless you as He enlightens you through His word this weekend!