“…let a man examine himself” (1 Cor. 11:28).
On the Lord’s Day we gather round the Table of the Lord. Remember, it is the Lord’s Table, and not the
table of any man. It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself Who is inviting you to take part. All those who have
been purchased by His precious blood have free access to this Table. If you look into your heart, you will
know if indeed you have been purchased by His blood, and if not, please do not touch the bread or the
cup, even if they are passed to you. These things belong only to those who are born again and are a part
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of His living Body, the Church. They do not belong to those who are not born again. This then, is the first
point of self-examination. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Cor. 13:5).
This Table reminds us of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in that death it reminds us also of the
mighty and eternal victory wrought on the Cross. Our Lord wants us, each one, to have a life of victory
and triumph and He has made every provision in His broken body and shed blood to enable us to enjoy
that abundant life. As we partake of the bread and the cup we live by Him. We are reminded also that we
have to be clean before we partake of it. We may have been taking part for many years, but even so, we
need to examine ourselves on every occasion, lest we are unclean, lest we take part unworthily, for
“…whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body
and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:27). Are we clean and worthy before Him? This is why we need to
examine ourselves before we take part. Are we obeying Him in all things? Is there any matter between
ourselves and a fellow-believer? Is there any envy or jealousy? Is there any disagreement or disunity?
Then, before we partake of the bread or the cup, that matter must be confessed and put right, both before
God and with our fellow-men; that envy and jealousy must be confessed and put under the blood; that
hatred or disagreement must be brought to the light, and dealt with and put right. Every weakness can be
overcome by His life. Every defilement can be washed by His blood and every past loss can be recovered
by humbling ourselves. As we remember His death, we remember that we also are dead to sin, and must
yield ourselves as servants to obey Him (Rom. 6:16-19).
Daily Devotionals
Read Daily Devotionals in Telugu & English with Bible verses, prayers, and faith lessons. Strengthen your spiritual life with God’s Word every day.
The Lord thy God
January 19
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with
joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing” (Zeph. 3:17).
You have seen human beings looking happy and joyful, but have you ever seen God looking
happy? None of us can dream how our creator looks when He is joyful. Yet it is true that God
rejoices. “The Lord thy God… will rejoice over thee, He will joy over thee with singing.”
Suppose you could hear the Lord Himself singing! How would you feel if you could hear your
loving and living Lord singing over you? After He has loved you, saved you and poured His
love into your heart. He will begin to sing for joy over you. Watch a mother with a new-born
babe. She is so full of Love for the little one, hugging and kissing it all over. Her face lights
up with joy, and her song is sweet as she pours her love into her baby’s heart. God too will
sing over us like this when we are newly born again and ready to receive His Love. Then you
will hear Him singing a song far sweeter than any angel’s song. Such is the joy of the Lord.
Such is the joy that fills us with divine strength.