Examine yourself during the Lord's Supper.
And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's. 1 Corinthians 11:1
So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32
Paul gave specific instructions on how the Lord's Supper should be observed:
We should take the Lord's Supper thoughtfully because we are proclaiming that Christ died for our sins. We should take it worthly, with due reverence, and respect. We should examine ourselves for any unconfessed sins or resentful attitude. In reality, no one is worthy to take the Lord's Supper. We are sinners saved by grace. That is why Paul wants us to observe the Lord's Supper with respect and thoughtfulness.
Remember, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
When Paul said unworthy manner, he was referring to church members who were rushing into without thinking of it's meaning.
Father, thank you for leaving us a reminder of Jesus's sacrifice, his life-giving grace, and our responsibility to keep his memory and ministry alive as his Body, the Church. Thank you so much for Jesus. Thank you for blessing me with a spiritual meal which reminds me and proclaims again that Jesus died, offering his body and blood as the sacrifice for my sins.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Remember Jesus! Remember his great sacrifice and his imcomparable love for you!
2 comments:
Bloggers4Christ,
I just learned that Dennis was inspired to type this blog, "Examine Yourself" after watching the Passion of the Christ movie. Obviously, he had the eyes of his heart set on the "Lord's Supper" part where Lord Jesus sat along with His Disciples to break bread and drink the cup. This can be found in 1 Corinthians 11.
I can see Jesus' heart. He aches for His Disciples, including us. He knows He is facing the worse on that very eve after the communion. He desires His Disciples to remember Him: the unleavened bread as His body and the cup of juice/wine as His blood that He is about to shed for the sins of the world, TO FORGIVE and bring propitiation (satisfaction) and restore the relationship between man and God!
I don't know about you but I consider every Sunday's communion an important one! I'm always anxious for the day where we all come together to commune with God and break the bread, together. When we do this, TOGETHER, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes! (1 Cor. 11:26)
It breaks my heart when people do not cherish the importance of the "Lord's Supper". I wrestle in my Spirit when the Lord's children do not want to commune with God among their own fellow Christians. I, sometimes feel like, throwing dirt on my face and body, when my fellow Christians belittle others who may be weak, who have insulted them, who are not pleased, will not join in the "breaking of the bread" and "drinking the cup of the vine". They have forgotten that our Lord Jesus has gone through the worse. He, even worse than you and I, joined with the betrayer, Judas, in the breaking of the break and drinking the cup!! Think about this! I believe it's ultimately pathetic hearing members complain over little things or issue and not join in the communion, the fellowship and the breaking of the bread and drinking from the cup when Jesus didn't even bark once about His own issues!
A thought to ponder. A perspective to overlook. A heart to change! A communion to proclaim!
It may be true that many people may have forgotten how much pain, suffering, sacrifice for our sins, and agony Christ endured during his crucifixion. I think that these people know about Christ's sufferings, but didn't UNDERSTAND the events prior to and after his death. Or maybe they UNDERSTOOD, but just rather hold onto worldly things like I originally did after my baptism in 2001. This is where we have to be SO VERY PATIENT with these people and just pray that God continues to watch over them and guide them somehow to His gracefulness with their hearts fully opened.
Remember ... God, being very jealous, wants us to not have our hearts broken ... remember, Mark .. you preached to us one Sunday that every time we have burdens or problems or worries, He always says, "I want these burdens" or "I want these problems" or "I want these worries" or "I want that". :)
Let Him mend our broken hearts and take care of the "blind" or "denying" Christians. All He wants us to do is pray for them.
Monica
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