Self-Examine before Coming to the Table
ICS Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians 11:17-19 (NKJV) Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognised among you.
God sent His only Son to be made sin for us so we can be reconciled to Him. Therefore, He is a God of reconciliation, a bridge builder and a peacemaker, and He expects us to do likewise with those He has placed around us, especially our family members and brethren. God is a strong advocate of reconciliation, which is why He wants us to walk in love and in the Spirit. We will grieve the Holy Spirit when we refuse to do so, and He will let us face the consequences of broken relationships.
God understands and has experienced the divisive work of the devil that destroys relationships, with Adam and Eve and when Lucifer took a third of the angels with Him. Therefore, when we come before the Lord’s Table that signifies the grace of God who has forgiven us through the shed blood of Jesus despite our imperfection, it reminds us of the unconditional love of God towards us.
He has instructed us to love Him and love our neighbours as ourselves. It must begin with our family, where we walk in love and forgiveness towards our spouse and children. Unforgiveness, hatred, and bitterness are sins in our lives. It is also a form of protection for a married couple to always extend grace towards one another before they partake of the Holy Communion. The Lord is not pleased whenever there are schisms, strifes, and divisions in the body of Christ, or when we have favouritism towards the rich and oppress the poor. Therefore, if we remember that we have something against a brother or sister, we should work on asking the person for forgiveness or make reconciliation. We should rid our hearts of bitterness and unforgiveness when we come before the table where we are reminded of God’s grace and forgiveness toward us.
Allowing bitterness and unforgiveness to dwell in our hearts will affect our bodies and make us sick because bitterness and hatred are not just our emotions but they are developed from the hearts of man. They give out poisonous vibes through our emotions. On the contrary, when we walk in love and extend grace, the joy of the Lord is like medicine to us, and we will prosper in our soul and be in health! Coming before the table reminds us that we can walk in love and forgiveness through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
Sermon Series: The Holy Communion
