Eating Together on Purpose

Eating Together on Purpose

1 Corinthians 11: ³³ So then, my friends, when you gather together to eat the Lord's Supper, wait for one another. ³⁴ And if any of you are hungry, you should eat at home, so that you will not come under God's judgment as you meet together. As for the other matters, I will settle them when I come.

 

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Summer marked a time when relatives would come over to eat. We would have a spread that was unmatched. Well, at least as far as I knew. It also marked a time when the annual church picnic would happen. Block clubs would spring up and close the streets to allow tables of food to be set up. Meals were full of fun.

 

• I remember eating with a lot of people.
• I remember having fun while I was eating.
• I remember smiles, sharing and laughter around eating.

 

Paul warns everyone to “wait for one another” when eating the LORD”s supper. He also warns those who have a tendency to eat more than their share, to eat at home This gathering should be looked at as a time of togetherness, showing unity in proclaiming the victory JESUS has over death.

 

My Observation

• GOD wants me to slow down and eat with people.
• GOD wants me to wait on others to celebrate JESUS when they “get there.”
• GOD wants me to eat only my portion and save some for everyone else.

 

Being with people seems to be important to GOD. But sometimes I look at the LORD’s supper as functional. I mean, I attend church and eat the symbolic meal at the right time, but do I know anyone else? Do people know me and what I am going through?

 

Slowing down to eat a meal brings people together to talk, celebrate and proclaim who JESUS is in our lives. HE wants us to come together on purpose.

 

Challenge

• What do you notice about the assumption “when you gather together?”
• What fond memories do you have around meals?
• What ways are you “eating too much” and possibly bringing GOD’s judgment on yourself?
• Will you seek celebrating togetherness in CHRIST with others today?

 

Why Remember?

Why Remember?

! Corinthians 11: ²³ For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, ²⁴ gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, “This cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me.”

 

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Hurt by the circumstance, I had forgotten all the good times when laughter ensued from the house. Bitter attacks and missing people left five individuals wounded and seemingly, forever separated. The enemy had devoured us, or so he thought.

 

• There have been circumstances in my life that attempted to erase the good that happened.
• There have been situations in my life that tried to remove the great memories that happened.
• There have been obstacles, barriers and thieves, that tried to steal the wonderful things that happened.

 

Paul addresses divisiveness by giving the training he received directly from JESUS. “Remember ME.” Paul mentions the teaching of JESUS as HE spoke to HIS disciples before HE was crucified. JESUS knew times would get difficult and Satan would seek to divide by turning up pride, hidden lies and hardened hearts. HE wanted them to remember what HE had overcome.

 

My Observation

• JESUS wants me to remember that HE overcame all my sins, when I sin.
• JESUS wants me to remember that HE loved me more than any human could ever love me.
• JESUS wants me to remember that HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT to comfort me and I am never alone regardless of how things may seem.

 

Remembering JESUS is extremely important. I mean, if I think “I” did things on my own, then pride would creep in. Remembering JESUS controls pride. If I dwell on the hurt and the pain, I forget that HE felt pain and hurt, just for me. When I remember that JESUS died and was raised from the dead, my hurt and pain stings less.

 

When I feel all alone, I remember that JESUS sent the HOLY SPIRIT to comfort me. HE begs for forgiveness of my sins and provides the right words when I need them. Remembering the good helps heal my wounds.

 

Challenge

• What good things do you remember that the enemy is trying to steal from you?
• Do you think remaining stuck on the circumstance, even for years, will help you heal from wounds?
• Will you remember the good and especially what JESUS did for you so the HOLY SPIRIT can provide the comfort you seek today?

What is Missing?

 

What is Missing? (Feel free to comment)

1 Corinthians 11: ¹⁷ In the following instructions, however, I do not praise you, because your meetings for worship actually do more harm than good. ¹⁸ In the first place, I have been told that there are opposing groups in your meetings; and this I believe is partly true. (¹⁹ No doubt there must be divisions among you so that the ones who are in the right may be clearly seen.) ²⁰ When you meet together as a group, it is not the Lord's Supper that you eat. ²¹ For as you eat, you each go ahead with your own meal, so that some are hungry while others get drunk. ²² Don't you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or would you rather despise the church of God and put to shame the people who are in need? What do you expect me to say to you about this? Shall I praise you? Of course I don't!

 

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“Why don’t we do an outreach for the people on, let’s say, Main (name changed to protect the church) street?” I said to the leaders.  Looking back, this challenge had a hidden agenda of exposing the fact that the outreach efforts seemed to be targeted to those who already attended this particular church. “Great, why don’t you lead the effort?” was the shocking reply I wasn’t prepared for.

 

• There have been times when I wanted to be heard versus being part of the solution.
• There have been times when I wanted to complain versus offering to help.
• There have been times when I wanted to blame and feel good about registering my “two cents” versus stepping up to help based on a unifying need.

 

Paul does not hold back when it came to the divisive behavior of this group. Some people were getting all the attention, while others were left out. Some were using the church as a club to get “drunk.” What was missing was unity.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to approach HIS gathering with unity.
• GOD wants me to seek a unifying message versus “my own meal.”
• GOD wants me to come together to help the entire congregation, not just feed my own appetite.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I have been in need many times. In fact, I am in need right now! But GOD wants me to approach HIS church with a unifying message versus trying to be heard and seeking division. I believe the only “right” message is to preach the belief and love of CHRIST.

 

My ideas for making things better or growing the church do not need to be heard unless they are shredded through the knives of humility and the blades of unity. I am glad GOD expects unity from us all.

 

Challenge

• How powerful is unity?
• How dangerous is division?
• Have you ever come up with an idea and got frustrated when it was not accepted?
• Will you seek unity by understanding the needs of all, while serving the group you have been called to?

Preparation

Mark 14: ²² And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

²³ Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ²⁴ And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. ²⁵ Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

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Searching for the right nail only took a few minutes. I hung this particular frame with care. It was my diploma and what was so special about it was it was earned with a huge struggle. I remember the struggle when I gaze at the sheet of paper most would overlook.

• I have many reminders I can look at.
• I have many items that bring me back to memories both fond and difficult.
• I have many things I can look at that reminds me of what I went through.

JESUS served HIS disciples with a purpose. HE alone would be blamed for every sin of every person. HE would be killed because a sinless human had to be responsible for the mess humans were in. JESUS showed them symbols that were important to HIS upcoming actions.

• JESUS wants me to recognize that HE blessed the bread to HIS FATHER.
• JESUS wants me to think about HIM giving thanks before HE served the wine.
• JESUS wants me to understand that HIS preparation also included singing.

Each time I remember what JESUS did for me, prepares me for the plan HE has for me. HIS death, burial and resurrection inspires me to get up another day and face the challenges and the blessings. HE prepares me for HIS wonderful blessings. One day I too will drink with HIM in the kingdom of GOD.

• Do you know you are being prepared?
• Can you recognize GOD has a plan for you?
• Will you take a moment right now and remember what JESUS did for you?