Title Proper attitude to the Lord's Supper.....
2008·11·08
Today we partake of the Lord's ordained sacrament. The Lord instituted this sacrament on the night of his arrest. After sharing the Passover supper with the disciples, the Lord was arrested after praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Lord instituted this sacrament the night before His death on the cross. Through this sacrament, the Lord made it clear that He would be torn and shed for us on the cross. And he commanded us to celebrate this sacrament in the future to commemorate the Lord's death for us.
Passover and Holy Communion
This sacrament was instituted at the Passover Supper. During the meal, the Lord broke bread and gave it to the disciples, saying that this was the body of the Lord given for them. “The Lord gave me what I have given you. On the night of his arrest, he took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, saying, “This is my body for you; do this in remembrance of me” (verses 23-24). He gave and said: “After supper, he also took the cup in the same way, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this in remembrance of me whenever you drink it” (verse 25).
The Lord said that as we celebrate this communion, we should remember and preach that He died on the cross and shed His blood for us. “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (verse 26).
Holy Communion in the Corinthian Church
The Corinthian church held the Lord's Supper whenever they met as Jesus commanded. They each brought food from their home and ate together in sacrament meeting. But here's a problem. The rich brought food and wine, and the poor brought nothing. However, the Corinthians did not share the food they brought, but only the rich who brought food. In the midst of this, the sacrament meeting was held. Thus, while the rich were hungry and drunk on wine, the poor were hungry and miserable in their communion. How could it have been a gracious and holy communion?
Why is this so wrong? The Eucharist is a ceremony to remember and preach Jesus, who suffered and died for us. As we participate in this sacrament meeting, we remember the love of the cross that saved us, and we become passionately grateful again. But how contradictory would it be if those who received the love of the cross, instead of taking care of their poor brothers, ignore them and make them miserable? How powerfully did the Lord who died on the cross for us command us to love one another?
unable to discern your body
The Apostle Paul also said that the Corinthians were eating and drinking without discerning the body of the Lord when they partook of the Lord's Supper, and that was eating and drinking of their own sins. “He who eats and drinks without discerning the body of the Lord eats and drinks in his own sin” (verse 29). It is a complete turn away and disobedience to the will of the Lord who instituted the Eucharist and died on the cross for us. How wrong is it?
As a result
Paul says that the Corinthians were disciplined by God for their unworthy participation in the Lord's Supper. “Therefore, many of you are weak and sick, and many are sleeping” (verse 30). We live only by the grace of God. Our families, children, health and peace are all God-given graces. But when we disobey God's word and will, God disciplines us. It is like parents beating their children to correct their misbehavior. The Corinthians were being disciplined by God for neglecting the Holy Communion. God disciplines His children so that they do not perish. “It is the Lord's discipline that we are judged, that we should not be condemned with the world” (verse 32). God still loved these Corinthians. So he disciplined them to stand upright.
Today we partake of the Lord's Supper. With what attitude do you intend to partake of this sacrament? Above all, keep in mind that the Lord suffered for me and shed His blood on the cross. As you look to the Lord on the cross, I hope that you will participate in this sacrament with fervent gratitude.
There is one more thing to remember. The Lord, who suffered and died on the cross to save me, has asked me to do something. That is to love each other. Do you truly love your brother? Are we paying attention and love to the weak and needy among us? Do you turn away from them and live only for yourself? Decide before the Lord to practice brotherly love as you partake of this sacrament today.
It is the proper attitude to partake of this sacrament with this attitude. When we partake of the Lord's Supper with this attitude, the Lord will give us great grace. He will renew our hearts and give us the strength to overcome the world and sin. As you participate in this sacrament, I hope you will meet the Lord who is in our midst and become saints who will receive abundant grace from the Lord.