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Day 12 1 Corinthians 11:17 1 Corinthians 11:17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating every one takes before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. Why do you take communion? What purpose does it have in your life? Paul learned the people in Corinth didn’t understand what the Lord’s Supper was and came together not for the purpose of participating in the Lord’s Supper, given by Jesus the night He was betrayed, but to eat without thought to the meaning and significance of the sacrament. Jesus ordained the Lord’s Supper on the eve of His crucifixion. He told the disciples they were to come together often in remembrance of what He sacrificed that night and what His sacrifice would mean to future generations. Paul showed the church in Corinth that the bread signified the broken body of Jesus Christ. His death on the cross. In breaking the bread, Jesus gave Himself to those who accepted Him as Savior and Lord. In drinking from the cup of wine, shared with everyone at the table, Jesus showed it signified His blood, soon poured out in the beating he received at Rome’s hand as they scourged him, flaying His body, so that His blood poured from Him. God told Israel that the blood makes atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul. Jesus is our atonement, crucified on Calvary’s cross for your sin. His blood cleanses you of all your sin. Paul told the church in Corinth they didn’t regard the purpose of the Lord’s Supper and because they didn’t, they would become sick and die. As Christians, you are to honor Jesus’ death on the cross with the celebration of communion, coming together often to remember what Jesus did for you by dying for You so you could have eternal life. Before you take communion for the first time, you are to understand the reason for it or you too would be guilty as the church of Corinth was. Examine, think about why you are partaking of communion, confess any sin you committed, and then take part in the Lord’s Supper. In that way you will not bring condemnation to yourself, but you will bring life and hope. Let’s pray: Father, forgive me for not examining myself before I partake of Your Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper, which He gave the night He was betrayed and died on Calvary’s cross. Help me live my life fully aware of Your plan of salvation for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 25 March 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay