Come to the Table

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 11:26-27

John MacArthur explains the truth of the Lord's Supper spoken through the Apostle Paul in these words:
      When the individual members of the Church partake in the service of communion, the gospel of Christ's physical incarnation, sacrificial death, resurrection, and the coming kingdom is presented.  So, when we approach communion ritualistically and indifferently with an unrepentant heart, spirit of bitterness, or other ungodly attitude, we dishonor the ceremony of communion and the body and blood of Christ our savior by treating lightly the gracious sacrifice of His death on the cross for our sins.

We (myself included first of all) often struggle with approaching the table of communion with both a repentant heart and full knowledge of the gospel we are experiencing in through faith in Christ.  Quickly our gospel-centered thoughts elude us when we prepare to take communion as the responsibilities, worries, and desires we think we need to address during the day bombard our minds.  Failing to push our earthly thoughts aside, we fail to grasp the extent of God's grace, love, forgiveness, hope, and glory we can share in through faith in Christ as our lord and savior.

In the words of C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity, when approaching the table of communion let us, "shove them (our wishes, hopes, fussings, and frettings of the day) back; and listen to that other voice, take that other point of view, let that other larger, stronger, and quieter life come flowing in."  Abide in the truth of God's everlasting love for you, focus on the supreme and complete beauty of Christ's willingness to become completely separated from God's presence on the cross for your sins, so that you may have life through Him.  Humbly recognize that you were a sinner, an enemy of God almighty, and the only reason you are righteous and holy in the Living God's eyes is through Christ, His son, imputing His own righteousness and holiness to you through paying the full penalty of your sins on the cross.  Our worries and hopes for the day are insignificant in comparison to the glory of God.  So lets focus on God's amazing love and grace for our lives before we take communion, and then lets approach Him with a repentant heart as we stand in awe of the miraculous display of love we are remembering when partaking in communion, and bask in the holiness of our Creator.

Love you guys.