MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12
1 Corinthians 11:27-34
1 Corinthians 10:14-22

“But let a man examine himself …”

THE WARNING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Corinthian Christians had forgotten the central message of the Lord’s Supper. They were abusing the Lord’s Supper by turning it into a time of merriment just like the parties of the world. Instead of showing forth the love of Christ, they were despising their brethren who were not well off. By doing so, they corrupted the testimony of the Lord’s death, and took the name of the Lord in vain.

The Lord views the desecration of His holy sacrament very seriously. Because the Corinthian Christians abused the Lord’s Supper, the Lord struck some of them with illness. Some even died (1 Cor 11:30). Thus, it is important to approach the Lord’s Supper with great fear and reverence, for he who partakes of the Lord’s Supper unworthily “eateth and drinketh damnation to himself ” (1 Cor 11:29).

Some churches today treat the Lord’s Supper flippantly. This writer has seen an announcement of a love feast conducted at a youth camp which was peppered with partying and dancing before the partaking of the Lord’s Supper. There are also churches today who sell Lord’s Supper sets so that members can partake of the elements on their own. Such churches are truly playing with fire.

The Lord’s Supper is not fun and games. It is a commemoration of the Lord’s death, and is a sacred spiritual exercise. Do not surf the net or check your emails on your mobile phones when you come before the Lord’s table! Rather, meditate on God’s Word and prepare your heart to partake of the elements. “When the Lord’s Table is observed reverentially and faithfully, there comes a special blessing from heaven. Such gracious benefits from God Calvin said cannot be explained, but experienced” (Tow and Khoo).

THOUGHT: The Lord’s Supper is a sacred spiritual exercise.
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for every remembrance of Christ’s death.