Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Thoughts precede acts but not always.

There is a lot of negativity in motion these days. Put downs take a lot less energy than lifting up.

Paul gives us encouragement to control our thoughts in the hope that our actions will follow after righteousness. While following righteousness is a fitting lifestyle, doing it to receive praise is not. Praise be to God and God alone.

What objective evidence do we have that what we do glorifies God and God alone?

To answer that question we must ask ourselves if the question itself is valid. What is objective evidence? It is an object that provides evidence. A gun is fired and a man is killed. The bullet is retrieved from the body and ballistics matches the rifling on the gun with the bullet. That is objective evidence that the gun killed the man. The gun is guilty, guns are bad. No, that is a negative assertion since a gun cannot fire itself.

This is just an extreme example of negativity. More subtle and dangerous negative assertions are in play here. We are presenting the gospel of truth to a world that hears lies and has bought into those lies and does not know the truth.

• Romans 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
• Romans 7:4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
• Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
• Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

We are that object evidence that Godly thoughts lead to righteous acts and we know by history that those who are rooted and grounded in lies will object. Judging people puts them on the defensive, that is human nature.

Present the gospel of truth and let the truth speak for itself.

Isaiah 62:8-10 Amplified Bible

8 The Lord has sworn [an oath] by His right hand and by His mighty arm,
“I will never again give your grain as food for your enemies,
Nor will [the invading] foreigners drink your new wine for which you have labored.”
9 But they who have harvested it will eat it and praise the Lord,
And they who have gathered it will drink it [at the feasts celebrated] in the courtyards of My sanctuary.

10 Go through, go through the gates,
Clear the way for the people;
Build up, build up the highway,
Remove the stones, lift up a banner over the peoples.

Here in these passages I find the meaning and source of communion.

It begins with the oath sworn by our Lord.

Psalm 132:11 The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: “One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.”

His promise was kept in Jesus. 

Communion: “a having in common (koinos), partnership, fellowship” Strong’s g2842

One of the oldest issues of making a contract was in celebrating a shared meal between the two parties, the breaking of bread together. This oath of the Lord is one that declares He will not covenant with the enemies of Christ.

The next issue is the celebration of the feast. Remember our recent conversation about agape love defined as a love feast.

To eat and drink in the courtyard of His sanctuary requires that those invited to participate in this communal feast, this love feast, must be deemed holy.

Psalm 5:7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

1 Peter 1:16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

The last issue is the banner, a sign to everyone, of our Lord’s oath to us.

John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”