Tuesday, February 22, 2022
So anyone who eats
this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning
against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why
you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For
if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you
are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That
is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we would examine ourselves, we
would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are
judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned
along with the world. So, my
dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for
each other. 1 Corinthians 11:27-33
As a pastor, I’ve served communion to many people.
One of the things I’ve hated about the last two years of COVID-19, is missing that holy moment of looking into the eyes of the people who come to the table. It was always an honor and high privilege to break the bread and place it into the hands of those who loved Christ, and humbly held out a hand to receive.
For that reason
(among many others) I am certain the enemy, that old slew-footed serpent,
Lucifer, has relished COVID-19 social distancing. It has not only crippled the intimate nature
of fellowship around the table, but in some cases derailed many local churches
from meeting together for worship.
On a more positive note, I believe the church has found
something exists that needed to surface…determination, perseverance – that intangible
spiritual toughness that takes-on the challenges God’s enemy throws in our pathway. It is that nearly undefinable quality of
spiritual fortitude, a reserve called-forth in response to the Spirit’s bidding
which says, we’re going to serve Him, no matter what!
The church of the roaring, troubled 20’s reminds me of
Job, sitting in the ashes of grieving, covered with boils, ridiculed by most everyone
who knew him, being questioned as to why God was punishing him, and why he
would even consider continuing to breathe.
Job’s answer was a resounding stone-faced glare of steel:
Though he slay me,
yet will I trust in him: Job 13:15
For You Today
There are two
reminders for each of us in Paul’s letter to the Corinthian believers, as well
as Job’s faithful response to his critics:
1. We need to wait FOR each other…don’t forget that the body moves together, or it comes apart.
2. We need to wait ON each other…the strength I need is something you exhibit and share with me…and, that which keeps you going does not entirely come from within you...thou and I share the same pulse when we consider: one loaf, one body. Life is in the blood, brother!
You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have
a blessed day!
[1] Title & other images: Russell Brownworth (own work) Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©
