The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 18 April 2019 – A Fitting Memorial
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TOPIC: A Fitting Memorial
READ: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 King James Version (KJV)
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 taketh 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 brake 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 shew 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 that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh 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.
THE MESSAGE:
We are often advised against looking back. Yet there are times when we must look back and recollect. The Lords Supper is such a time. Each time we commemorate the Lords Supper, we look back to the night when Jesus was betrayed (v.23) and also at His death. We also look ahead to His return the blessed hope of the church (v.26b). Moreover, in the Lords Supper, we look within (vs.27-28, 31-32) to examine our hearts, judge and confess the sins in our own lives before God exposes them. If we eat and drink in an unworthy manner, we bring judgment on ourselves. Finally, in the Lords Supper, we look around (vs.33-34) to discern the Lord’s body and demonstrate its unity.
The Lord’s Supper is a time of remembrance, repentance and renewal. In it, you can find the reason for your existence as a believer and hope for your future. It is Gods way of getting us to keep the cross of Christ central in our lives and nourishing and refreshing our souls for eternal life. Each time you partake of the bread and the cup, remember that Jesus Christ took “your hell” so you might have His heaven. If you receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit reminds you of this memorial each time you commune with the Lord! What a fitting memorial!
Prayer: Thank You Lord for the memorial ordained for my benefit. Grant that it does not take the place of Christ in me.
