Having the Right Heart Posture for Lord's Supper
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 11:27-34 (NASB)
27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.
SUMMARY
Summary:
Paul admonishes the Corinthians that they will be guilty before the Lord if they attend the Lord’s Supper without carefully examining themselves. They are weak, sick and spiritually sleeping if they are inconsiderate toward others. Paul says to “wait for one another”. Moreover, to take care of their physical hunger before coming; this way, they focus on filling the spirit and what it means to share in His supper rather than just the physical aspect of eating and missing out on the whole meaning and causing unnecessary division.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
There was an unfair situation occurring during the partaking of the Lord’s Supper among the believers of the Corinthian church. They were abusing the Lord’s Supper in a way that was not edifying to one another and neither honoring God. Instead of remembering what Jesus did for them...His body (bread) broken that we may be made whole and the shedding of His blood (wine), that we may be forgiven and reconciled to God, they were more concerned with filling their stomachs and being inconsiderate toward others, especially the underprivileged and the weak.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Psalm 139:23-24 ESV.
I want and need to examine my heart for motives and attitudes that may not align with God’s heart.
APPLICATION
Before I come before the Lord in prayer or in studying His words, I realized this “me” mentality has penetrated every corner of my life. For example, when I am working, I feel compelled to counsel and help others understand how and why they need to be taking their meds...in the process, I lose focus of the relationship and the attitude of my heart because I’m too focused on the delivery and execution of my duties.
At home, I’m thinking about the challenges of being home- because I need to be a good mom and wife, I start lashing out with hurtful words while the kids are trying to engage in a conversation with me, because they are interrupting my dinner preparations. I miss out on the lasting and meaningful connections/relationship building moments because I’m more focused on duties and events. All the while, I’m praying and preaching that God would help me “be present” with Him and with those who He has placed in my life. I need to start over.
I need quiet times of reflection and examining of the heart before I get too engrossed in my responsibilities. I want to slow down and pray to God daily to help me search my heart and give all my cares to Him. And in the evening, I want to make time to reflect on how I spent the day-and wait on the Lord.
PRAYER
Father, Thank You for showing me that people and relationships matter more than events and duties.
Forgive me for trying to do too much and losing sight of that. Help me to examine and search my heart and put “people” before “stuff” in this life. I don’t want to ever lose a moment where You want to teach me and show me and reveal to Me who You are. I don’t want to be lost in the chaos and the noise of our current events. Help me take time to wait on You and hear from You and just to be with You. You are what my heart desires and seeks...lead me in the everlasting way.
In Jesus Name, amen.
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