Worthy Unworthy - March 24 Readings: Luke 22:14-23, 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34, The Lord’s Supper

By

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory


In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world.

Today's Reading:  Luke 22:14-23, 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34


Through the Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 25-26, Luke 1:39–56, Psalm 37:36–40, Proverbs 9:4-6

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Context 


A few days ago, we read in Jeremiah 31 of the New Covenant God promised to Israel. Here, Jesus instituted a new covenant with his disciples, our great reminder of what he would go through the next day. The church was to take the bread and the cup as a memorial of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Devotional: Worthy Unworthy!


There is one very important word in the passage on the Lord's Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, a single word that changes everything. Verse 27 gives this warning:
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
Imagine a small change to that verse. It says that we must observe the supper in a "worthy manner" (well, not in an unworthy manner - same thing). Imagine that the word "manner" was missing and it just said that we had to be worthy to receive the supper. I'd be in trouble, how about you? Go ahead, you can admit it. You would never be worthy of God's grace and neither would I. 

We don't have to be. We do not have to be worthy of the supper, but simply have to observe it in a worthy manner. What is that? It has nothing to do with how the supper is served or any words we intone or any such logistical or liturgical matters. It has to do with our hearts. 

There are two things we must do to honor Christ and celebrate the supper the right way, in a worthy manner. First, we must remember the death of Christ and honor the meaning of the cross. We must be reflective, worshipful, both introspective and celebratory as we think about the fact that Christ bore our sins in his body and washed them away in his blood. But this is the part we sometimes forget. Christ did not simply die for millions of individuals but for ONE BODY, the church. He didn't just die for me, he died for us. If I celebrate the Lord's Supper as simply a time for personal worship and introspection without giving proper thought to the Body of Christ, I've not celebrated the work of Christ properly. 

We must consider both the work of Christ at the cross for our sins and his work for us, the Body. We must give thought to Christ and to his church. 
Father, I thank you for your Son's sacrificial work on the cross and for the Body he purchased with that death. May I give proper regard to both. 

Think and Pray:

You will never be worthy of salvation, and yet through Christ, you may observe the Lord's supper in a worthy manner. Give thanks to God for that.
Are you observing the supper in a worthy manner - examining yourself and your relationship with the Body of Christ? 





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Battle Begins" February 9 Readings: Numbers 31-36

By
Image
   Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Numbers 31-36 Background:    We wrap up our reading of Numbers today with another difficult reading. Chapter 31 tells of a war with Midian and then the journeys of Israel are recounted in detail. The boundaries of the Promised Land are spelled out - far larger than modern Israel. Then we read of the founding of the cities of refuge and the inheritance of Zelo...
Read more

"Not Many Wise" October 6 Readings: 1 Corinthians 1

By
Image
  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   1 Corinthians 1 Background:    Introduction to the Book of 1 Corinthians Paul started a lot of churches. He had great churches like Philippi and Ephesus, who brought him constant joy, who demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit and a passion for the gospel. He had the Bereans who searched the Scriptures to see if what he preached was true. He started churches in Thess...
Read more

"He Prayed for ME!" September 2 Readings: John 17

By
Image
  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.   The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   John 17 Background:    John 17 is truly "The Lord's Prayer." This is the prayer that the Lord prayed the night before he died, pouring out his heart to the Father on behalf not only of his disciples but for all of us who would follow. Daily Devotional:   He Prayed for ME! The night before Jesus died, just before he agonized in the Gard...
Read more