1 Corinthians 11:27-34 Judging Ourselves
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 9, 2020 1 Corinthians 11:27-34
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.
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. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
(Understanding the Text) Paul is speaking of disrespecting Jesus and His death. He is saying that to treat communion like it is commonplace or just food and drink is to disrespect Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Paul says that before going through the ceremony, a person needed to examine himself. Are we to examine ourselves to confess our sins, or are we to look at our relationship to Jesus, or are we to meditate on Jesus? I would assume that it was similar to the Jewish temple ceremonies where people examined themselves to see if there was anything unworthy, but I don’t know exactly what they did.
Paul says that there were those among the Corinthians who were sick and others who had died because of the way they were taking communion. He claims that there is a physical judgment happening among the Corinthians for their disrespect of the Lord’s Supper. He is saying that God is judging them unworthy, but that if they judge themselves first by reflection upon the meaning of communion and their own relationship with Jesus, they will not be negatively affected by taking communion.
Evidently they were just loading up on the food and drink when they got there instead of making sure that everyone got some. They were acting greedy and not thinking of anyone else’s needs. Paul says that they need to think of each other. He said if a person were hungry, that person should plan to eat at home before they come together for communion.
There must have been more questions asked of Paul that he needed to communicate to the Corinthians, but he chose not to tell them at this time. He said that when he got there, he would answer their other questions.
(Revelation of God) Jesus sacrificed so much for us, yet we tend to take for granted what He did and treat Him and His actions with disrespect, like spoiled kids who treat their parents with contempt while expecting to receive praise and presents from Mom and Dad. Jesus does not have ego involved, but He will still deal with us as necessary to teach us not to be spoiled babies always grasping for other people’s stuff. Somehow, we are to become like Him and His unselfish humility. I don’t know how I will ever be like Jesus, but the Bible says that the process is taking place right now, so I will have to take God’s word that He will finish the process of transformation in me.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is I need to examine my relationship with You and take communion seriously. It is not just a hoop to jump through. There is something special about it that I need to pay attention to. On the day of communion in the morning before church, I need to think about whether there is any rebellion in me and pray for heart cleansing before I take communion.