The Table Explained
Why do Christians break bread and drink the blood of grapes? Our answer would probably be simply “to remember Jesus”. It’s good to ask questions about the Lord’s Table, but the Table also answers our deepest questions about suffering, life and death, good and evil, justice and mercy. The deeper we meditate on the Table the more our eyes are opened to the beauty and Truth of the Gospel.
Scripture
1 Corinthians 11:23-29 ESV For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. [27] 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. [28] Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. [29] For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
Through the Scripture
Sin came into this world with our choice
God gives us the choice to love and trust Him, but we choose to run after our own selfish desires and trust what we think will give us what we want. This is how humans first sinned by trusting a liar instead of trusting God. Faith was broken and we are still paying the consequences.
Genesis 3:2-6 ESV And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, [3] but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” [4] But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. [5] For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Death came into the world because of our sin
Just like the first humans, we distrust and disobey the God who created us and this beautiful world that we live in. This sin has wrecked us and our world. The whole of creation is suffering the devastating effects of sin.
Genesis 3:19 ESV By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Romans 5:17 ESV For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. [18] Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
Romans 8:18-22 ESV For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [19] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
God sent His Son to die for our sin
But right from the beginning, the One just and gracious God planned a rescue. Knowing we couldn’t obey Him in our own strength, He sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for our sin. This meant that Justice would be done, but that mercy could be given, freely in His perfect Grace.
Exodus 34:6-7 ESV The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, [7] keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
John 3:16-18 ESV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Jesus gave His life willingly
It’s just not possible for us to grasp the nature of God who is One but three persons - but it’s essential that we accept it. God is perfectly fulfilled in love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He needs nobody else, but chooses to love us. The Father sent His Son Jesus to become human so that He could pay our debt, but His Son also choose this terrible fate willingly.
Matthew 26:53-54 ESV Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? [54] But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
Jesus gives us His Heart to replace our dead heart
The heart describes our desires and intentions. Left to ourselves our heart will be stone. A stone heart is like the heart of an idol, and it’s wants and desires are all ultimately selfish. God promised to give us a heart of flesh, as He chose to become flesh in the person of Jesus. Jesus was perfect and without sin, His heart (His desires and intentions) were perfect as were His thoughts and actions. This meant He could give His perfect life in exchange for ours, and in so doing remove our old selfish desires and replace them with His.
Ezekiel 36:22-27 ESV “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. [23] And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. [24] I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. [25] I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. [26] And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We have died to sin and we live for Jesus
When we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and place all our faith in Him to reconcile us to Himself - He recreates us with a new heart and takes away the punishment we would have to have faced under a righteous, just and Holy God. Now that we are free of the consequences of our sin, we co-operate with His Holy Spirit to live in a way that honours Him, becoming more and more like Jesus.
Romans 6:8-14 ESV Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. [9] We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. [10] For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. [11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. [12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. [13] Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. [14] For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Galatians 5:22-25 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
We proclaim His death until He returns
This is why we celebrate the table, in obedience to Jesus own instructions. It is an act of worship, a way to declare that we believe that Jesus Christ died for us. It’s a simple act which brings home to us the cost of His precious love, and helps us to appreciate Him and His pure sacrifice for us. Eating is an act of fellowship and also one which sustains us, grows us and makes His sacrifice part of our lives.
1 Corinthians 11:23-29 ESV For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. [27] 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. [28] Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. [29] For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
Daily Devotions
Monday - The Origins of the Lord's Table and God's Rescue Plan
Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 11:23 ESV - For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread,*
Reflection This verse sets the scene for the Lord's Table, highlighting that Jesus Himself instituted this practice on the very night He was betrayed. The act of taking bread by Jesus, knowing His imminent suffering, points to the profound love and deliberate plan of God for our rescue. The sermon explains that the Table answers our deepest questions about suffering, life, death, good, evil, justice, and mercy because it speaks to the very origin of these issues: humanity's choice to distrust God, which introduced sin and death into the world. Even in His betrayal, Jesus was fulfilling God's ancient promise to reconcile a fallen world to Himself, bringing together His perfect justice and abounding mercy.
Additional Scripture
Genesis 3:2-6 ESV - And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:19 ESV - By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Romans 5:17-19 ESV - For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
Romans 8:18-22 ESV - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
John 3:16-18 ESV - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Exodus 34:6-7 ESV - The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Life Application Recognise that the Table is not just a ritual, but a profound declaration of God's love and solution to the deepest problems of sin and death. Take time to reflect on the immense grace that Jesus, knowing He would be betrayed and suffer, still chose to initiate this powerful symbol of His sacrifice for You. Let this understanding deepen Your appreciation for His presence and purpose in Your life, especially amidst suffering and injustice in the world.
Prayer points
Thank God for His divine plan of rescue, conceived even before the world's foundation.
Ask Him to open Your eyes to the depth of His love revealed in Jesus' willing sacrifice.
Pray for a greater understanding of how His justice and mercy are perfectly met in Christ.
Confess any areas where You have distrusted Him and chosen Your own desires.
Tuesday - The Body Given For You and A New Heart
Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 11:24 ESV - and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”*
Reflection Jesus' words, "This is My body, which is for You," are at the heart of the Table's meaning. His physical body was broken on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for us. The sermon reveals that this sacrifice goes beyond just atoning for sin; Jesus gives us His perfect heart—His desires and intentions—to replace our stony, selfish hearts. Because Jesus was perfect and without sin, His life could be exchanged for ours, removing our old desires and giving us new ones. This means that when we remember His body, we are not just remembering a past event, but acknowledging the transformative exchange of His life for ours, empowering us to live in a new way.
Additional Scripture
Ezekiel 36:22-27 ESV - “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate My holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into Your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules.
Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Matthew 26:53-54 ESV - Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
Life Application Consider Your own "heart of stone" – those desires and intentions that are selfish or hardened. As You remember Jesus' body given for You, believe that He offers You a new heart of flesh, a heart that desires His will. Cooperate with His Holy Spirit to allow His perfect desires to shape Your own thoughts and actions, becoming more and more like Him.
Prayer points
Ask Jesus to reveal any areas of Your heart that are still stony and resistant to His will.
Thank Him for His perfect life and sinless heart, given in exchange for yours.
Pray for His Spirit to empower You to live with His desires and intentions.
Ask for grace to continually appreciate the cost of His sacrifice for Your transformation.
Wednesday - The New Covenant in His Blood
Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 11:25 ESV - In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”*
Reflection The cup represents the "new covenant in My blood," signifying a new agreement between God and humanity, sealed by Jesus' shed blood. This new covenant, as the sermon explains, beautifully reconciles God's attributes of justice and mercy. God is both merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, yet He "will by no means clear the guilty". Through Jesus' willing sacrifice of His own blood, the full penalty for our sin was paid, satisfying God's justice. Because He paid the price, mercy can now be freely given to all who believe in Him. His choice to endure this terrible fate was a voluntary act, proving His profound love and obedience to the Father's plan.
Additional Scripture
Exodus 34:6-7 ESV - The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
John 3:16-18 ESV - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Matthew 26:53-54 ESV - Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
Life Application Reflect on the perfect balance of God's justice and mercy achieved through Jesus' blood. When You partake of the cup, remember that it is a symbol of a new relationship with God, one where Your sin is forgiven and You are offered eternal life, not condemnation, through belief in His Son. Allow this understanding to foster a deep sense of gratitude and security in His covenant love.
Prayer points
Thank God for the new covenant established in Jesus' blood, which offers forgiveness and eternal life.
Praise Him for perfectly demonstrating His justice and mercy through His Son.
Ask for a deeper revelation of the immensity of Jesus' willing sacrifice and obedience.
Pray for a heart that continuously trusts in His promises and His covenant.
Thursday - Proclaiming His Death Until He Comes
Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 11:26 ESV - For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.*
Reflection This verse highlights that observing the Lord's Table is not merely a private act of remembrance, but a public proclamation of Jesus' death. It is an act of worship, declaring our belief in His sacrifice and appreciating His precious love. Furthermore, this proclamation has a future dimension: "until He comes". The sermon reminds us that while we will all eventually return to dust, Jesus' promise is that death becomes a doorway to eternal life for those who trust in Him. Therefore, when we participate in the Table, we are not only looking back at His past sacrifice but also looking forward with eager hope to His return and the full realisation of eternal life He purchased for us. This celebration sustains us and helps His sacrifice become a part of our lives.
Additional Scripture
Romans 6:8-14 ESV - Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Galatians 5:22-25 ESV - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
John 3:16-18 ESV - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Life Application Embrace the communal aspect of the Lord's Table, understanding that Your participation is a visible witness to the world of Your faith in Jesus' death and Your hope in His return. Let this weekly or monthly observance be a reminder to live in a way that honours Him, as one who has died to sin and lives for Jesus. Allow His sacrifice to continually transform Your life, producing the fruit of His Spirit.
Prayer points
Pray for boldness to proclaim Jesus' death and resurrection through Your words and actions.
Ask for a deeper hunger for His return and the glorious future He promises.
Pray that Your life would increasingly reflect the truth that You have died to sin and are alive to God in Christ.
Ask the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in You, that You may honour Jesus.
Friday - Approaching the Table with Reverence and Discernment
Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 11:27 ESV - 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.*
Reflection This verse serves as a solemn warning, underscoring the profound seriousness with which we should approach the Lord's Table. To partake in an "unworthy manner" is to be "guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord" . This highlights the immense cost of Jesus' sacrifice. The sermon reminds us that the Father experienced "the most exquisite joy" at the redemption bought by His Son, but there was also "pain on our Father’s face" as He watched His Son crucified and heard His cry of forsakenness. Jesus suffered all the days of His life, choosing to go through this agony willingly, when He could have called on legions of angels. Disregarding the gravity of this sacrifice or treating it casually devalues the incredible love and pain involved. It calls for profound reverence and a heartfelt recognition of what was given for us.
Additional Scripture
Matthew 26:53-54 ESV - Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
Romans 5:17-19 ESV - For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
Genesis 3:19 ESV - By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Life Application Before partaking in the Lord's Table, take a moment to reflect on the immense personal cost of Jesus' sacrifice for You. Ask yourself if there are any attitudes or actions that might trivialise this sacred act . Approach the Table with a humble, grateful, and reverent heart, remembering that His body was broken and His blood shed to save You from the consequences of sin, offering You life instead of condemnation.
Prayer points
Pray for a heart of deep reverence and awe when approaching the Lord's Table .
Ask for forgiveness for any past instances where You may have partaken in an "unworthy manner" .
Thank Jesus for His willing suffering and for choosing to pay the ultimate price for Your sin.
Pray that You would never take His sacrifice for granted, but always appreciate His precious love.
Saturday - Self-Examination and Renewal at the Table
Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 11:28 ESV - Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.*
Reflection This verse calls for a personal and honest self-examination before partaking in the Lord's Table. The sermon addresses a common feeling of guilt, where one might think, "I couldn't have been that helpless that someone had to die to keep me alive". However, the truth is that we were utterly helpless, and Jesus indeed died to give us life. This self-examination is not meant to drive us away in shame, but to bring us to humble gratitude, prompting us to confess our pride and thank God for His mercy and the gift of His Son. When we believe in Jesus, He removes our old, selfish desires (our "heart of stone") and replaces them with His own perfect desires (a "heart of flesh"), empowering us to live in a new way, to present ourselves as instruments of righteousness to God. This examination should lead to a renewal of faith and a desire to live more like Him.
Additional Scripture
Ezekiel 36:22-27 ESV - “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of My holy name, which You have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate My holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into Your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules.
Romans 6:8-14 ESV - Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Life Application Regularly examine Your heart, not to condemn yourself, but to confess sin, pride, and unbelief, and to remember the transformative power of Jesus' sacrifice. Let this examination lead You to humble dependence on Him, trusting that You are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. Confidently draw near to His throne of grace, knowing You will receive mercy and help in Your time of need.
Prayer points
Ask the Holy Spirit to help You examine Your heart honestly before Him .
Confess any pride or guilt that prevents You from fully embracing His mercy.
Thank God for the new heart of flesh and the ability to live for Him.
Pray for the grace to present Yourself to God as an instrument of righteousness.
Sunday - Discerning the Body and Living in His Joy
Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 11:29 ESV - For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.*
Reflection "Discerning the body" means understanding the profound significance of Jesus' sacrifice—His broken body and shed blood—and its implications for our lives and our relationship with Him. The sermon emphasizes that meditating on the Table opens our eyes to the "beauty and Truth of the Gospel," helping us appreciate Jesus and His pure sacrifice. Not discerning His body means failing to grasp that His brutal murder was transformed into eternal life for us, that He gives us the power of His Spirit to joyfully and gratefully do His will, and that His pain ultimately resulted in "the most exquisite joy" for the Father as He sees His children return to Him. The story of the heart transplant serves as an imperfect picture of this: a life given so another may live, and the parents finding hope and blessing even amidst pain. This is the joy that we celebrate and participate in when we truly discern His body.
Additional Scripture
John 3:16-18 ESV - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Ezekiel 36:22-27 ESV - “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of My holy name, which You have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate My holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into Your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules.
Romans 6:8-14 ESV - Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Life Application Strive to deeply understand and internalise the meaning of Jesus' sacrifice. Allow this discernment to fill You with incredible hope and joy, knowing that Your new heart beats with eternal life in Christ. Live each day with profound gratitude, using Your new heart and empowered by His Spirit, to glorify Him and invite others to experience this same life and joy.
Prayer points
Pray for grace to fully discern the body of Christ and the depth of His sacrifice .
Ask for Your heart to be filled with the "most exquisite joy" that the Father experiences when His children trust in Him.
Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to enable You to live for Jesus and to honour Him with Your transformed life.
Ask God for opportunities to invite others to believe in Jesus and experience eternal life.