7 LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM THE HOLY TABLE
- Dec 17, 2015
- 4 min read
7 Lessons we can learn from the Holy table
1. Jesus is the chief celebrant. Let's humbly approach (1 Corinthians 11:28) the Master's table with a repentant and contrite heart. With a warm and gracious invitation, He has granted us access to commune with Him. He is ready and willing to serve us by satisfying our hunger and quenching our thirst. He is the living bread (John 6:51) that if anyone eats, he or she will hunger no more. He is the living water (John 4:14) so that if you drink, one will not thirst again.
2. You and I desperately need Jesus inside of us for without Him, we do not have life (John 6:53). It is necessary that Christians symbolically eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus because the bible says, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)." The Lord is willing to grant the believer a spiritual blood transfusion in order to make us healthy and whole. With Jesus inside of you, there is nothing that you can't overcome.
3. There is room for you and me. Every person who sat around the table with Jesus was a sinner. Peter lied (John 18:15-17), Judas was a thief (John 12:6), James and John were more concerned about prestige, power, position, promotion and prominence rather than the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:37, 38). Thomas doubted (John 20:25), and Matthew was a dishonest tricky tax collector (Matthew 9:9) driven by greed. All of the disciples had demons that they battled with. They all had faith dilemmas (Mark 9:29; Luke 8:25), fear (Matthew 14:33), and at times, were rude and impatient (Jn. 6:15-17) just to name a few. In the end, they were just like the typical Christian just like us. If Jesus made room for them, He will make room for you and I. Reject pride, embrace modesty and humility and simply be grateful that you and I can sit with Jesus. After all, Jesus likes to spend His time with sinners.
4. Nothing stopped Jesus from giving. Though there were betrayers, liars, swindlers, doubters, competitors and money lovers seated around the table... Jesus never said, get yourself together before I serve you. He did not tell them to change their clothes and dress professionally. He did not demand that they sow a financial seed into His ministry so that they would get blessed. He did not ask them for their tax record or made sure that they were members in right standing in His church. He simply said, "Take (1 Corinthians 11:24-27)!" With a closed hand and heart, you will not receive anything. However, if you open your hand and heart, you will receive everything.
5. Take off the mask! Jesus knows the real you so you don't have to try to be someone you're not! He knows where you've been, what you're thinking and what you have done (Psalm 113). Christians must endeavor to make a practice of being transparent before the Lord. I often wonder how a man like King David could be a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22) when he made many terrible, and in some instances, unforgivable sins. I believe that David chose to be honest with his Lord (1 Kings 9:4-5). We must recognize and acknowledge our sin. Not only that, but repent and turn from our wicked ways (Acts 3:19) of sin by thought, word and deed. Let's make an honest effort to intentionally live right following the commandments of God.
6. Examine yourself (Job 13:23). Do not fall into the trap comparing yourself to others who are sitting at the table. Everybody has a story. Jesus told a parable, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
7. Communion is a dispensation of grace. You can't earn it and you don't deserve it. The blood of Jesus has eradicated our sin (Ephesians 1:7) and saved the believer from eternal damnation (Romans 5:9). Let's embrace communion as an act of the grace of God without ill-intentions, a blasphemous attitude and a rebellious spirit because the Apostle Paul encourages us to not drink damnation (1 Corinthians 11:29) ourselves. Conversely, let's contemplate the acts of love that Christ wrought through His sacrifice, obedience and humility. We are to earnestly keep fresh in our minds His passion, death and Resurrection. Through the work and life of Christ, God has reconciled the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). Let's remember to be thankful because it is the will of God (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Comments