Scripture - 1 Cor 11:29-32 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
Observation - Paul is giving some fairly strong instruction here in this passage. He is telling the church - when you take part in the Lord's Supper it is a very serious issue. If you eat and drink in this manner and have not taken a serious look at yourself you are setting yourself up for judgment. Paul says that we should take a close look at our actions, take a close look at our heart and judge ourselves so that we do not come under judgment. He goes on to say that this is the reason so many of us are weak, sick and asleep. That we fail to take a close look at ourselves and make corrections. We are afraid to evaluate our performance and discern the weak areas of our heart and actions. This is causing too many to fall away. Self evaluation is the key to growth in business. Business take a very serious approach to looking internally and evaluating performance, process, operations, corporate citizenship, effectiveness and vision. Believers won't do this and therefore are weak, sick and asleep. There is something about looking inside that keeps you alive, keeps you growing, keeps you looking for something more.
Application - The key to growth is looking for points of weakness and correcting them. Understanding that "We all sin and fall short of God's glory" puts us in good company. We all have some weak points. Looking internally at the ones that are causing judgment and correcting them, repenting of them is key. God cannot discipline for growth if we will not look and evaluate what is happening in our lives and in our hearts.
Prayer - Father - help me to continue to look deep inside to those places that are causing hindrance. Father I need you to help me not only identify the weak spots but to correct them.
Observation - Paul is giving some fairly strong instruction here in this passage. He is telling the church - when you take part in the Lord's Supper it is a very serious issue. If you eat and drink in this manner and have not taken a serious look at yourself you are setting yourself up for judgment. Paul says that we should take a close look at our actions, take a close look at our heart and judge ourselves so that we do not come under judgment. He goes on to say that this is the reason so many of us are weak, sick and asleep. That we fail to take a close look at ourselves and make corrections. We are afraid to evaluate our performance and discern the weak areas of our heart and actions. This is causing too many to fall away. Self evaluation is the key to growth in business. Business take a very serious approach to looking internally and evaluating performance, process, operations, corporate citizenship, effectiveness and vision. Believers won't do this and therefore are weak, sick and asleep. There is something about looking inside that keeps you alive, keeps you growing, keeps you looking for something more.
Application - The key to growth is looking for points of weakness and correcting them. Understanding that "We all sin and fall short of God's glory" puts us in good company. We all have some weak points. Looking internally at the ones that are causing judgment and correcting them, repenting of them is key. God cannot discipline for growth if we will not look and evaluate what is happening in our lives and in our hearts.
Prayer - Father - help me to continue to look deep inside to those places that are causing hindrance. Father I need you to help me not only identify the weak spots but to correct them.
