02/11/2022 - EXAMINE YOURSELF BEFORE GOD

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But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11.28

The Lord’s warnings must be taken seriously, because He only says something important and with a purpose. According to Jesus, we err because we do not know our duties and rights (Matthew 22.29). So, it is always good to try to understand what we are supposed to do. Giving God’s Word its proper place will make you live free from suffering and will open the eyes of your spirit, so that you can overcome problems. Be vigilant!

The verse we are studying talks about the Holy Supper, warning us not to give place to the devil. If we do not shut the doors to him, using the knowledge of the Word, he will continue to attack us in spite of our prayers. We must obey the following warning from Scripture: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5.8).

We need to examine how we live in this evil world, where we are exposed to temptations (Ephesians 5.15-17). If we keep the commandments of the Lord, refusing the enemy’s offers, there is no problem in participating in the Holy Supper. However, if we give in to the evil one and fail to confess this to God in order to be forgiven, it is better not to sit at His table to eat of the bread and drink of the blood of Christ.

Why don’t we open our hearts to the Lord? Do we like being separated from the Most High? Now, at Christ’s return, being separated from the Father here, we will remain separated in eternity. We need to be in communion with Him, thus, nothing can separate us from His love (1 John 1.5-7). Why leave the confession of our wrongdoing until later, if we don’t know the time of our departure? Many people think that they will have time to come close to Him before they die, but who can guarantee that? Besides, those who think this way, are they really sorry for their sins? (Act 2.38).

Everyone should make the most of such opportunity to get right with God once and for all before taking the bread and wine. If He instructs us to reflect on our actions, He is giving us the opportunity to redeem ourselves; so, we must take make the most of this opportunity. After acknowledging our transgressions, we are forgiven and cleansed, as the Word declares: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1.9). Believe and live!

Having a clean heart, we can then take the bread and eat it, believing that it is, spiritually, the body of the Lord, which has taken our pains and our infirmities (Is 53.4,5). Then it becomes the body of our bodies, the muscle of our muscles, and so on. In Egypt, after eating the Paschal Lamb, symbolizing the Messiah to come, they were all healed: He also brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes. (Psalm 105.37).

Drinking from the cup is very important. In this act, you enter into full communion with the Most High, reliving the last supper in which Jesus participated with the apostles. Thus, He said: But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26.29). Get ready for this moment! What a special day! Amen?

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares