God’s grace isn’t earned, and we can’t wait idly to experience it. We need to engage in means of grace as a way to renew our relationship with the Lord. Means of grace are sacraments, special, holy moments when we are closest to the presence of God. Jesus gave us examples of these sacraments in scripture.
Two examples of these sacraments include baptism and holy communion.
Baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual work of grace. Baptis marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. John the baptizer made it clear when he said, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming. …….. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8)
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, “Go . . . make disciples . . . baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Baptism “is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him” (Acts 2:38-39).
Baptism is a public confession of our faith and marks our new identity in Christ.
Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion during his last supper with his disciples, and he commanded them to continue sharing the bread and cup of the new covenant in remembrance of him (Luke 22:19-20).
And Jesus said to his disciples, “This [bread] is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). “Then he took a cup, and after giving
thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you’” (Matt. 26:27).
When we come to the Lord’s Table, we come to the banquet table of God.
In addition to these sacraments, there are many other means of grace we can describe as sacred moments such as prayer, worship, or marriage.
Regardless of what sacraments you practice or believe in, these are holy moments that we get to share with God, our creator. In the words of John Wesley, “We may not all believe alike, but we can all love alike.” Love first because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
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