COME TO ME AND NEVER BE HUNGRY!

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 11:27-34 (NRSV)

Discerning the body of Christ

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.

DEVOTION

Today, Paul is giving instructions to the church at Corinth regarding how to observe The Lord’s Supper in a holy way. It seems that in Corinth some people were having trouble partaking in a way that truly honored and remembered Jesus’ sacrifice.

Instead of coming to the table humble and repentant, they came greedy and selfish, eating up all the bread and drinking up all of the wine until they were drunk!

In response to this poor behavior, Paul instructed the people to eat at home and examine oneself prior to coming to the Holy Communion table.

In my tradition prior to inviting people to partake of the bread and wine of communion, we invite everyone assembled to ask God for the forgiveness of our sin.

We know that the Bible teaches us that God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life! We know that Jesus instructed His disciples to eat bread and drink wine—as often as they came together--in remembrance of Him.

Isn’t that an awesome request? Jesus asked us to remember Him. But, what is it that we are supposed to remember?

I think Jesus wants us to remember we are loved, cherished, and protected by God’s Amazing Grace! I think Jesus wants us to remember that he died and rose again just as He promised in order to make reparation for our sin and make provision for our eternal life! I think Jesus wants us to remember that we can’t out sin, out fox, or out run the love of God which is revealed to us in Christ Jesus!

I don’t know about you, but I truly want to remember those things! As we come to the Holy Communion table to partake of the Lord’s Supper I don’t want to be thinking about how hungry or thirsty I am. I don’t want to be worrying about whether “Sally” is getting a bigger piece of bread than me. I don’t want to be musing about a fight I had with a loved one.

Instead, I want to come to the Lord’s Supper secure in God’s unconditional love and amazing grace! I want to be at peace with God and at peace with my neighbors. I want to examine myself, confess my sin, receive God’s forgiveness, remember Jesus’ death and resurrection, and then eat and drink with great joy!

It is so awesome that Jesus gave us the Holy Communion so that we can remember Him! As we think of the body and blood of Jesus—again and again—we are compelled to retell the GOOD NEWS story over and over again!

As we boldly declare, “Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ will come again!,” our GOOD NEWS message goes out into the entire world! As we remember JESUS, we tell our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors that “Jesus saves and He saves to the utmost!”

Now, ain’ta that good news?!!

Will you remember God love for you and Jesus’ death and resurrection on the cross this day? If so, please pray with me:

Holy One, thank you for loving me so much! Thank you for Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Thank you for the forgiveness of my sin and the sure gift of eternal life. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I want to live in the Light of Jesus, remembering his death a and resurrection until He comes again! Help me to share this GOOD NEWS story with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRING PASTOR YOLANDA TO YOUR HOME TOWN--Would you like to invite Pastor Yolanda Lehman to come speak or preach at your church or Christian ministry event? Please use the form to the right. Once you click “submit” your information will be privately conveyed to her email address! Pastor Yolanda is available for church anniversaries, pastoral appreciations, women’s day, missionary day, retreats, revivals, conferences, and so much more! Fill out the form to the right to get onto her preaching or teaching schedule!

LISTEN TO PASTOR YOLANDA’S SERMONS ONLINE--To listen to audio recordings of Pastor Yolanda's Sunday sermons, please visit http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/57814 or click the widget to the right on this page!

PUT ALL OF YOUR HOPE IN JESUS--If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/

You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda

You are invited to be Pastor Yolanda’s friend on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PastorYolanda
Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews

You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right!

Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com

GET BACK UP AGAIN!

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 11:17-22 (NRSV)
Abuses at the Lord's Supper

Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord's supper. For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!

DEVOTION

Oh my goodness! The Apostle Paul was not happy about the things he was hearing about the church at Corinth when he penned today’s verses! It seems that the people in the church were arguing amongst themselves in addition to being greedy and selfish as they celebrated The Lord’s Supper!

While we may not have people getting drunk from the Holy Communion wine today, as Christians we do continue to fight amongst ourselves bringing shame to the Kingdom of Love. Additionally, I am sure that many of us would do well to repent of the sins of selfishness and greed.

It seems that as human beings we are besot with sin-sickness which is a terminal dis-ease. God says to love God--and we love idols. God says to love our neighbors--and we hate them. God says to care for “the least of these”--and we hoard our blessings rather than sharing them with others!

Lord, please have mercy on us poor sinners!

But, whilst Paul’s letter is an open rebuke to The Church, there is still GOOD NEWS for us today!

Although it is true that we sin and fall short of the glory of God, there is a cure for our sin-sickness! There is a balm for our dis-ease! His name is JESUS.

JESUS is God’s love all wrapped up in flesh. JESUS is the proof that God loves us unconditionally! Aren’t you glad that God’s love sent Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life?

Now, as a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God’s Amazing Grace holds us tight, even when we fight with each other and act in greedy or selfish ways that are contrary to the Law of Love.

When we sin, by omission or commission, the Holy Spirit speaks to us, gently correcting us, and urging, nay compelling us to make things right! This is God’s gift to us and this is our gift to the world!

When we fight in The Church, we are quick to make up. When we sin in The Church, we are quick to repent. When we fail in The Church, we are quick to make things right.

Because of JESUS, we know that we are more than conquerors through Him that loves us! We know that a righteous man falls down many times, but always gets back up again with the help of God (Proverbs 24:16)!

It is so sad that so many people are so ashamed of their sin and mistakes that they attempt to hide themselves from GOD. They think that they have messed up too much for God to forgive them. So they run from God hoping that their sin will never catch up to them!

Dear Friends, God wants you to know that you cannot out run, out sin, or outfox the love of God that has been revealed to us in Christ Jesus!

Simply put, no matter how bad you’ve screwed up, God still loves you and God still wants you to come home!

Won’t you come home to God’s love today by putting all of your hope in Jesus to forgive your sin and gift you with eternal life? If so, please pray with me:

Dear God, thank you for loving me so much that you gave Jesus to die on the cross for my sin! I am glad that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected just like He promised! Today, I am putting all of my hope in Jesus! Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I know I messed up bad, but I trust you to make everything right. Please be with me as I share Your Love and Grace with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! I would be so honored if you would let me know about your decision by clicking “Yes” in the poll located at the top/right of today’s devotional! I am so happy for you! Happy Spiritual Re-Birth-Day!

Next steps: In response to what God did for you just now, let me suggest that you consider telling another Christian so that they can celebrate with you! Ask them to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand so that you can learn more about your new-found faith! Ask them to help you find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your new journey! You are already saved; now let God mature you by faith! Congratulations!




ANNOUNCEMENTS

BRING PASTOR YOLANDA TO YOUR HOME TOWN--Would you like to invite Pastor Yolanda Lehman to come speak or preach at your church or Christian ministry event? Please use the form to the right. Once you click “submit” your information will be privately conveyed to her email address! Pastor Yolanda is available for church anniversaries, pastoral appreciations, women’s day, missionary day, retreats, revivals, conferences, and so much more! Fill out the form to the right to get onto her preaching or teaching schedule!

LISTEN TO PASTOR YOLANDA’S SERMONS ONLINE--To listen to audio recordings of Pastor Yolanda's Sunday sermons, please visit http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/57814 or click the widget to the right on this page!

PUT ALL OF YOUR HOPE IN JESUS--If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/

You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda

You are invited to be Pastor Yolanda’s friend on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PastorYolanda
Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews

You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right!

Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com

ONE BLOOD, ONE BODY, ONE LORD OF ALL!

SCRIPTURE

Maundy Thursday
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NRSV)

Proclaim the Lord's death

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

DEVOTION

Today’s scripture comes with the byline “Proclaim the Lord’s death.”

That seems a little gruesome to me, but here it is in The Holy Bible, so we know that it is very important. What does it mean to “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes [again]?”

Well, Jesus, himself, instituted “The Lord’s Supper.” On the very night before he died, Jesus gathered his disciples together in an upper room and told them in essence, “this bread we eat is my body and this wine we drink is my blood. Every time you get together, I want you to do this again in remembrance of me.”

Wow! Jesus didn’t make that many requests of his disciples, but this one seems really important. Why do we need to eat bread and drink wine/grape juice in remembrance of Jesus?

Well, I notice several possible answers in today’s scripture. First of all, I notice the simplicity of the elements. Anyone can probably get their hands on some bread and drink of this nature. I’m really glad about this because it means whether you are rich or poor, famous or unknown, important or nondescript, everyone has the same access to this opportunity to remember Jesus. Isn’t it great that everyone is always welcome at our Lord’s supper table and that none are ever turned away?!

The second thing I notice is that Jesus said that we are to do this in remembrance of him. Wow! How could it be that something so simple could be so important, mystical, and holy? The answer is simple my friends, “Jesus said so.”

In ways that we can never understand, Jesus is present to us as we celebrate the Holy Communion. In the simplicity of the elements and of the ritual, God shows up for us in very special ways affirming God’s presence, love, forgiveness and grace, as we break bread and drink wine together on our knees.

Finally, I notice that we are commanded to “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes [again].” Isn’t it great that as Children of God we get to share Jesus with others?

When I was a little girl, we used a Bible translation which said, “As often as you come together, do this in remembrance of me.” I love the TOGETHER part!

Recently, I wrote a devotional entitled, “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love.” As we gather together to experience and share God’s love, Christians become a model of unity and friendship for the entire world to see! As we sup together, eating bread and drinking wine across race, ethnicity, class, physical ability, and other physical, social, or economic demarcations, we become a living portrait of what love can--and should--look like!

Now, listen, I know that this love is imperfect; but as Christians—also known as The Body of Christ—we must do our best to be a living and loving example until Jesus comes again. At the first Lord's Supper, Jesus washed his disciples' feet in order to model the dignity of service. As we follow the example of Christ, we too are called to humbly serve others--feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, and visiting the sick and imprisoned--until Jesus comes again!

Aren’t you glad that Jesus said, “I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29)”?

This promise, from our Lord and Savior, signals that there will come a great day when we will proclaim the Lord’s death in the heavens! We will celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the grave with God and with the holy angels. We will be able to look into the smiling face of Jesus as we take part in a Holy Ghost party that has no end!

I don’t know about you, but every time I partake of Holy Communion here on the Earth, over my head I hear glory and victory in the air! I hear the whispers of eternity joining with me in grand celebration. I feel the warm and loving embrace of God as I sup at the table Jesus prepared just for me (and you, you, and YOU)!

As Christians, we are tellers of the greatest and simplest story ever told. God loves, God gave, God saves. God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross in order to save us from our sins and to open the door to a never-ending party in the heavens.

How can we keep such GOOD NEWS to ourselves? We cannot, my friends!

Today, we are commanded in scripture to “declare Jesus death.” As you lead people to the cross, sharing with them to the love of God and pointing out the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, tell your friends this, “He did not stay dead, but was resurrected, just like he promised!”

Now, ain’ta that GOOD NEWS?!

How or to whom will you declare Jesus’ death and resurrection today?

My Lord God, how grateful I am that you allowed Jesus to die on the cross for me. Please help me to declare his death until he comes again. May my declaration be so filled with Your love, joy, peace, and grace that others will come running asking, “What must I do to be saved?”



ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus" found at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

We are celebrating with the 10 people who have recently put all their hope in Jesus! Happy Re-birthday!

You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda

Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews

You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right! Thanks for reading and please come again.

Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com