Daily Devotional for Saturday, July 26

The Penalty for Perversion

“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body,” 1 Corinthians 11:29.

Imagine you had taken much time and care to paint a beautiful picture that had great meaning to you. How would you react if someone then came and altered that picture, destroying its original beauty? God is a God of pictures. Throughout the Bible, we see beautiful portrayals of Christ through His people and their careful obedience to His Word. One of the most amazing pictures is Abraham’s willingness to offer up his son, Isaac (Genesis 22:6-18). Through his obedience, we have an awesome portrayal of the Heavenly Father giving His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for us. However, the Lord is not pleased when His pictures are distorted by man.

The Lord’s churches have been entrusted with two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Both ordinances represent Jesus Christ and must be carried out precisely as our Lord commanded in His Word. We must take great care to do it God’s way because it is His picture. When we alter the picture in any way, it no longer bears the image of its Creator. When the church at Corinth made light of the Lord’s Supper and perverted its meaning, there was a harsh penalty. Many became ill and many died.

There are numerous pictures in God’s Word that we can often lose sight of as God’s people. For instance, marriage is a picture of Christ and His church. Recognizing the beauty of that picture helps husbands and wives understand the significance of their roles. In the same way, God’s people need to recognize the importance of keeping the Lord’s church pure and His pictures undefiled. As a member of His church, you have the great privilege of being a part of God’s beautiful masterpiece. However, with the blessings come responsibility. May our lives reflect Christ and His beauty.

REFLECTION

Make your life a portrayal of Christ and His love.

Darla Goodrum