1 Corinthians 11:22-26 Don’t Hog the Bread
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 8, 2020 1 Corinthians 11:22-26
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. 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, 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.” 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.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
(Understanding the Text) Evidently, in being gluttonous, the Corinthians were eating up all the food at the supper so that those who came later had nothing to eat. Paul is saying that they needed to think of others. Also, they were treating a meeting among the church members as if it was nothing and their fellow church members were not special. Paul said that they could eat their fill at home if they needed to eat that badly, but that they should have self-control when meeting as a church group. Then he begins to recount what he had taught them.
(Revelation of God) I think it’s interesting that Paul says that he received his knowledge from the Lord. Does that mean that Paul considered what he had learned from people who had witnessed Jesus’ actions to be the Lord’s words, or does it mean that Paul was taught these lessons directly through vision or from an angel messenger? Much of Paul’s knowledge came from examining scripture, but his knowledge of Jesus’ life came from what he was taught by fellow believers such as Ananias and Barnabas and what he learned through communication with Jesus and the Spirit, either through direct instruction, vision, or angels. But why did Paul emphasize here that his knowledge came from the Lord?
(Application / Prayer) We are to remember Jesus’ death until he comes. It is the remembrance of Jesus’ death that gives us the promise of the life that He will bring with Him when He comes. My application for myself is that I need to think of others and not hog all the spiritual blessings at church to myself. Also, I need to always remember You, especially when I am with the church at worship and socially. I pray to always reflect Your love and always point others to You.