Daily Devotional for Wednesday, July 23

The Perversion of the Lord’s Supper

“Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse,” 1 Corinthians 11:17.

In September of 2023, my father went to his heavenly home to be with the Lord. Since that day my family has been experiencing a lot of firsts. We celebrated our first Christmas without Dad, Father’s Day, his birthday and so on. It is difficult, but also a time of remembering and developing new traditions. The time we set aside as a family to share memories and develop traditions is very important to the healing process. It would be hard to imagine someone disrespecting that process in any way. But how much more sacred and precious when God’s people come together to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

I can only imagine how solemn it must have been the night Jesus instituted the first Lord’s Supper. It was quite different from enjoying a regular meal. It was a very serious time that would continue to be observed by the Lord’s churches until He comes. Paul was not pleased with the Corinthian church and their complete disregard for the Lord’s Supper. They approached it with little care, respect or dignity. There were also divisions and heresies in the body (verses 18, 19). When the church gathers to partake at the Lord’s table, we are to come as one unified body. We are to be in fellowship with Christ and with one another, in truth and in love.

A church that has cliques, problems with immorality or doctrinal disputes is in no position to be observing the Lord’s Supper. Serious issues within the body need to be addressed and resolved quickly, according to the Word of God. This way we will be obedient to our Lord’s command to come to His table properly and remember His great sacrifice for us. May we give Him the honor He is due.

REFLECTION

Are you prepared to sit at the Lord’s table?

Darla Goodrum