John Whitecross, in his work The Shorter Catechism Illustrated, tells the story of a converted Greenlander who, “rather than be absent from the missionary settlement when the Lord’s Supper was to be administered, rowed the whole night in his kayak with the animal in tow…” When asked about his exertion he said, “How could I stay where I was? My soul hungers and thirsts after the Lord and His communion.” That kind of fervency for the Lord’s Table might appear strange to many, especially in a day when many undervalue the precious responsibility of being committed to a local church. But one of the reasons why regular participation in a local church is essential is because the Lord expects His people to participate in the Lord’s Supper. We ought not miss the imperative that Paul recalled: Jesus said, “do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:24b). That wasn’t a suggestion; it was a command.
