“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”—Jesus, Matthew 28:19-20, NIV

Are we? Do we realize that Jesus’ Holy Presence is with us—always? Are we doing what Jesus commanded us to be and do when He says to do it?  Unfortunately, we believers in Jesus are not perfect in all our ways.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Paul reminds us. (Romans 3:23)

Examine our motives—great advice from Paul!  When we honestly examine ourselves, we might notice that when we are physically weak and unusually tired, hard-pressed by problems, stressed by life, or merely confused over the actions of others and assume the worst; we become spiritually weak and easy prey for the enemy’s attack.  If we do not do what Jesus did; go the Father and ask for His wisdom and will, direction and strength we fall for the enemy’s schemes.  The enemy of Jesus, (and our enemy, too), jumps into our thinking and with his limited power.  He does his best to distract, deceive, disillusion, divide us and deconstruct what we believe with efforts to destroy our faith.  He works overtime to hinder the work Jesus commanded us to be and do—Go and make disciples, baptize, and teach—all in the Holy Name of Jesus.

Paul has gotten word that the Corinthian church is making a mockery of the Lord’s Supper which dishonors Christ and is destroying relationships with each other.  In this passionate part of his letter, he addresses the issue and reminds them of the authority of Jesus who is the Head of the Body of Believers.

1 Corinthians 11, The Message

To Honor God

11 ^1-2 It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by keeping up the traditions of the faith I taught you. All actual authority stems from Christ.

^3-9 In a marriage relationship, there is authority from Christ to husband, and from husband to wife. The authority of Christ is the authority of God. Any man who speaks with God or about God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of Christ, dishonors Christ. In the same way, a wife who speaks with God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of her husband, dishonors her husband. Worse, she dishonors herself—an ugly sight, like a woman with her head shaved. This is basically the origin of these customs we have of women wearing head coverings in worship, while men take their hats off. By these symbolic acts, men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their “heads” to the Head: God.

^10-12 Don’t, by the way, read too much into the differences here between men and women. Neither man nor woman can go it alone or claim priority. Man was created first, as a beautiful shining reflection of God—that is true. But the head on a woman’s body clearly outshines in beauty the head of her “head,” her husband. The first woman came from man, true—but ever since then, every man comes from a woman! And since virtually everything comes from God anyway, let’s quit going through these “who’s first” routines.

^13-16 Don’t you agree there is something naturally powerful in the symbolism—a woman, her beautiful hair reminiscent of angels, praying in adoration; a man, his head bared in reverence, praying in submission? I hope you’re not going to be argumentative about this. All God’s churches see it this way; I don’t want you standing out as an exception.

^17-19 Regarding this next item, I’m not at all pleased. I am getting the picture that when you meet together it brings out your worst side instead of your best! First, I get this report on your divisiveness, competing with and criticizing each other. I’m reluctant to believe it, but there it is. The best that can be said for it is that the testing process will bring truth into the open and confirm it.

^20-22 And then I find that you bring your divisions to worship—you come together, and instead of eating the Lord’s Supper, you bring in a lot of food from the outside and make pigs of yourselves. Some are left out, and go home hungry. Others have to be carried out, too drunk to walk. I can’t believe it! Don’t you have your own homes to eat and drink in? Why would you stoop to desecrating God’s church? Why would you actually shame God’s poor? I never would have believed you would stoop to this. And I’m not going to stand by and say nothing.

^23-26 Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,

This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.

After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:

This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.

What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.

^27-28 Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of “remembrance” you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.

^29-32 If you give no thought (or worse, don’t care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you’re running the risk of serious consequences. That’s why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won’t have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.

^33-34 So, my friends, when you come together to the Lord’s Table, be reverent and courteous with one another. If you’re so hungry that you can’t wait to be served, go home and get a sandwich. But by no means risk turning this Meal into an eating and drinking binge or a family squabble. It is a spiritual meal—a love feast.

The other things you asked about, I’ll respond to in person when I make my next visit.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Gossip, lying, mocking, thinking the worst not the best of each other that causes divisiveness and often brokenness within the church body must be addressed and the Body cleansed.  These sinful responses to each other while making a mockery of the sacredness of partaking in the Lord’s Supper that reminds of what Jesus did to save us “is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death.”  Yes, friends, our behaviors matter to God!  Instead, may we encourage each other as we honor God together.

Paul has already told us that when we hurt a friend, it is the same as hurting Jesus!  (1 Corinthians 8:12)!  Extract the gossip gene!  What we think is fun to say, while making us feel superior for a moment as others laugh at the expense of others is unholy and dishonoring to God/Jesus/Holy Spirit who lives with us. Yes, this is serious.  Words kill and maim what Jesus died to save us from—our sin nature.

Lay down the mockery even when nervous in new situations. Remember what Jesus has done to save us as we drink the “cup” and eat “bread,” His blood shed and Body broken.  Take up the cause of Christ by consistently and humbly giving Him all the glory and honor that is due to our Savior and the Lord of our lives as if our lives depended on it—because it does! 

His Presence is always with us—turn to Him!  He will help us in our responses back to Him and to each other.  That’s who He is and what He does—and that’s why I love Him!

O soul are you weary and troubled
No light in the darkness you see
There’s light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace

His word shall not fail you he promised
Believe him and all will be well
Then go to a world that is dying
His perfect salvation to tell…

(Songwriter:  Helen Lemmel)

Lord,

May we truly turn our eyes upon you and realize the depth of love you have for us.  Help us to love each other like you love us.  May we honor you in all we think, say, and do. Help us to be grow in your character as we respond to each other with your love, kindness, gentleness, mercy, and grace. Thank you for teaching us that they way we respond to each other is the same as responding to you.  I love you, Lord, with all that is in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

I’m forgiven because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well
Your spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be?
That you, my king. would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
Its my joy to honor you
Amazing love how can it be?
That my king would die for me
Amazing love I know it’s true
Its my joy to honor you
In all I do
I honor you

(Songwriter: Billy Foote; Sung by Newsboys)