THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN (DEVOTIONALS)
Problems
In the message that the Lord provided for the church at Corinth through the Apostle Paul, we can hear of a situation that was filled with problems for the people, and for the Lord. In 1 Corinthians chapter 11, starting in verse 17, we hear a bit about the problem:
The church had turned the simple and sacred meal of the Lord’s Supper into a time of feasting, drunkenness, and exclusion. They were accused of abusing the very gift of the body and blood of Christ as they turned this meal into a source of division and sinfulness.
Assumptions
How did the people of the church find themselves in this mess?
The answer is simple. They assumed they were doing the right thing, even though their actions were leading people away from the truth of Christ. It seemed that the people involved in the feasting, drunkenness, and exclusion did not see their behavior as anything other than acceptable – and possibly even appropriate.
Listen to how the Apostle Paul addressed the results of all of their assumptions in the passage that follows:
“So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.”
Cut Through
In verse 27, we hear Paul cut through all of their assumptions by telling them the truth about their behavior. They were guilty of sinning against the body and blood of Christ. Paul did not want the people of the church to continue on in their state of ambiguity about the “rightness” of their actions.
In this way, the Apostle Paul put into action the message that the Holy Spirit gave to the Ephesian church through his letter, as found below:
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Truth in Love
Paul loved the people of the Corinthian church so much that he had to tell them the truth. To leave them in their state of rebellion and offense to the Lord was to set them up for a time of discipline and judgement from the Lord.
By speaking the truth, Paul saved the church from continued sin and future pain as they experienced the loving but very real discipline of God.
Examine
In verses 28-32, Paul presented a solution to the problem created by the choices of the Corinthian church. He counseled them to take the time to stop what they were doing, and present themselves before the Lord in a time of honest examination and testing.
This kind of Spirit-led, open-handed, honest, self-examination, based on the truth of God’s word, was the solution to the problems created by the false assumptions of the Corinthian church. Paul made it clear that if they would enter into this kind of God driven time of personal testing that they would then be able to avoid the need for the Lord to bring his discipline upon them.
Better
It is far better for all of us that we should take up this challenge to allow the Lord to examine our hearts, our attitudes, our actions, desires, and wants. None of us should ignore this call, and assume that we can just keep going in sin, and somehow avoid the loving discipline of the Lord.
If you are willing, consider the prayer that follows:
Lord Jesus Christ,
I confess that I am not a good judge of my own heart and my own motives and desires. I need you to speak into my life with your loving truth. I want you to speak the truth in love to me today. It might sting to hear the truth, but it is better than continuing to live in a state of offense toward you Lord.
In Christ,
Ryan Laden
OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH
“TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP EACH OTHER IN LOVE TO KNOW JESUS AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”
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