Worth Repeating - December 9, 2017

I Corinthians 11: 27-29 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. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without regarding the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. (NIV)

Communion time requires preparation of emblems and heart.*

On the night that he was betrayed, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper as an object lesson and a memorial. He didn’t establish a lot of rules – not when or where or how often; no complicated ritual for how to partake of the emblems. We know that he used bread to represent his body, and “fruit of the vine” to represent his blood. And he said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” (Matthew 26: 17-30; Mark 14: 12-26; Luke 22: 7-20)

His disciples who were gathered there that night did not have to be told that this was a solemn occasion and worthy of an attitude of reverence. The church at Corinth, however, apparently needed a reminder. Paul wanted them to understand that the disrespectful way they were observing the Lord’s Supper was endangering their immortal souls.

We may not be guilty of turning the Lord’s Supper into a party, but Paul’s warning to the Corinthians is a good reminder to us that this is serious business. Most denominations fear that the Lord’s Supper will become too commonplace if taken too often so they only offer it monthly, or even quarterly. I don’t believe you can partake of it too often if you are truly communing with the Lord and reflecting on the body and blood he sacrificed for us.

Jesus’ disciples arrived at that first Lord’s Supper prepared for a Passover feast. It helped them in their understanding of Jesus’ introduction of a new memorial meal, but they might be excused for being a little foggy on the momentousness of the occasion. As someone has remarked, “Strange things were happening, and stranger ones about to happen.”* They couldn’t be expected to remember a death that hadn’t occurred yet. We, on the other hand, have no excuse if we participate with hands and hearts unready to handle anything holy.*

Gather around the Lord’s table often – but come prepared to remember and to worship and to show the world your allegiance to your Savior. Don’t bring judgment upon yourself!

Often we rush into and out of His presence without that quiet preparation of heart which is essential to communion with him.*