As we prepare
to observe the Lord’s Table this Sunday, I thought I would direct our attention
to a question that we have all asked at one point or another. The question is: I have failed spiritually this week, can I partake
of the Lord's Supper?
Whether we have blown it at work, or
with our spouses, or with our children, or by ourselves when no one else was
looking; we all ask, “Can I really eat worthily at the Lord’s
Table this week?”
First, we all sin everyday of every
week. Nobody brings a successful week to the Lord's Table. Therefore, we bring
to the Table our sin. And that is part of the focus of the Lord’s Table. It is
calling for us to recognize our unworthiness, and Christ’s worthiness.
Second, when
we come to the Lord’s Table, and examine ourselves with the Word of God, we are
called to confess all known sin.
Psalm 19:12–14 (ESV) — Who
can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from
presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be
blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
acceptable in your sight, O Lord,
my rock and my redeemer.
We should pray specific confession for specific
sins of which we are aware, we should pray general confession for the sins of
which we are unaware, and the result is that Christ cleanses us by applying His
own blood to us.
1 John 1:9 (ESV) — If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
Third, now that God has assured us of
pardon through Jesus Christ’s work on the cross, we eat of the bread and drink
of the cup in a worthy manner, not because we are worthy in and of ourselves, but
because we have been united by faith to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His blood
cleanses us and declares us worthy.
In light of these truth: what are the specific
sins in our lives that we need to be experiencing brokenness and contrition
over? Have we confessed them to God? If not, now is the time to confess them.
What are the relationships that need to
be mended before we observe the Lord’s Table on Sunday? Now is the time to mend
them.
Kevin Wilkening