But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
— 1 Corinthians 11:28
PAUL HAD JUST rebuked those in the church of Corinth for the way many were coming to the Lord’s Table and partaking of communion. He warned them that by doing it in a careless, unworthy manner, they became guilty of the body and blood of Jesus. And so he said, “Let a man examine himself.”
This is good advice for all of us. It is difficult, but important. You can’t deal with an issue until you have first identified and acknowledged it. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
ONCE WE EXAMINE OURSELVES AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SIN, WE CAN THEN BRING IT TO JESUS.
Perhaps there is something in your life that God wants to deal with, some issue you’ve been trying to hide from Him. Whether you realize it or not, that sin is hindering full fellowship with God. He wants to fix that today. If you will judge yourself, you won’t be judged of Him. Let the Holy Spirit search your heart and reveal the truth He knows, and then be sure you respond and react by confessing your sins and receiving His forgiveness.
As David said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:23-24). It is not what you think about yourself that matters—it is what God thinks.
Father, thank You for Your love and mercy towards us. Lord, as the Spirit reveals the truth to us, help us to acknowledge and repent.
In Jesus’ Name We Pray, Amen.