December 1, 2024

My family and friends came together to celebrate Thanksgiving and my 60th birthday, which was ruined by Hurricane Milton, who came and left that same day. We had a fantastic time feasting, listening to music, and socializing with people we love. God blessed us with memories that won’t soon be forgotten. Though our time was sweet and full of people carrying the Holy Spirit, it was not a festival set apart by God. He has ordained that we come together as often as we should to partake of the body and blood of Jesus as symbolized by bread and wine. Paul corrected the Corinthians because they had polluted this sacred ceremony by feasting and partying, but also because they neglected the poor and ate up all the provisions before those in need could enjoy any of the food. They desecrated this solemn feast, and Paul sent them a stern warning about their actions. Jesus wanted this time set aside as a remembrance of what he had given up on our behalf by shedding his blood on the cross for our salvation. When we come before him to partake in this ordinance, we are to examine ourselves to judge our own righteousness, confess, and ask forgiveness before we are worthy to participate. To eat this without proper examination of ourselves is like condemning Jesus to death on the cross once again. The point is to make sure you take communion very seriously because it is only one of two ceremonies recommended by Jesus, the other being baptism.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 1 Corinthians 11:28-29