Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Paul tells his readers to imitate him as he imitates Christ. He gives various instructions to bring order to gatherings of the early church that would’ve applied to the culture of their day. Then he speaks about taking part in the Lord’s Supper or Communion, something Jesus instituted with his disciples on the night he was betrayed (See Luke 14). He says that participating in the Lord’s Supper actually proclaims the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Charles Spurgeon writes in this passage and states, “We celebrate the ordinance until he comes because forgiveness through Christ’s death is still available for all who trust in him. By partaking of this Supper until Christ comes, we hold up this signpost to all who want to journey to heaven.” I love the imagery of the signpost that Spurgeon uses to explain this passage. It makes me think of times when I’ve heard people say that they’re “just looking for a sign from God.” Usually, that statement is in reference to deciding on whether or not they should take this job or that job or buy this house or that house, and they want a sign to show them that their choice is the “right” choice. Well, here’s your sign from God, folks. It’s way deeper than jobs and houses; it’s about incorruptible things, things that will not pass away. Through the Lord’s Supper, we hold up THE sign from God: we proclaim the Gospel—that Jesus lived a sinless life, died to pay for our sins, and rose from the dead on the third day—and the Second Coming—that Jesus is coming again to make all things right. What a privilege it is that we, as Christ-followers, get to participate in this! Paul doesn’t move away from this topic without giving a word of caution to his readers.

He tells us not to participate in an “unworthy manner” but examine ourselves first to make sure that we don’t have sin in our life that we’re ignoring. Paul always brings it back to the heart, just as Jesus did in his teachings. Examine your heart, even when things look good on the outside. Dig deep and determine if the posture of your heart is one of surrender to Christ and the work he wants to do in and through you.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Prayerfully examine your heart, looking for areas of your life that you haven’t surrendered to the Lord. Next time you have the opportunity, participate in the Lord’s Supper and take joy in knowing you’re proclaiming what Jesus has done for you.

Family Devo: 1 Corinthians 11 

By: Cody Smith 

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset 

Head

In today's reading from 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul how to act when gathered with other believers for worship. He discusses the importance of order and respect in worship services, specifically focusing on the practice of the Lord's Supper or communion. Paul emphasizes the significance of recognizing the true meaning and purpose of the Lord's Supper and warns against taking it lightly or in an unworthy manner.

Heart

The heart of Paul's message is centered on honoring and remembering the sacrifice of Jesus through the observance of the Lord's Supper. He reminds the Corinthians that this is a sacred act, a time of remembrance and reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul encourages them to approach this act of worship with reverence, humility, and sincere hearts. He wants them to understand the significance of the bread and the cup, which represent Jesus' body and blood given for us.

Hands

The practical application for us is to approach the Lord's Supper with a heart of gratitude and humility. We should take time to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and examine our own hearts before participating. It's a time for self-reflection and confession of sins, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with God and others. We should also strive to maintain unity within the body of believers, treating one another with love and respect. 

Today, let's prepare our hearts for times of communion or any act of worship. Let's take a moment to reflect on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice for us and the immense love He demonstrated through His death and resurrection. As we participate in the Lord's Supper or engage in other forms of worship, let's do so with reverence, gratitude, and a desire to grow closer to God and our fellow believers.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder of the significance of the Lord's Supper. Help us approach this act of worship and any other form of worship with reverence and humility. May we take time to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and seek forgiveness and reconciliation where needed. Teach us to treat one another with love and respect, fostering unity within the body of believers. In Jesus' name, Amen.