1 Corinthians 11:24
“And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”
I have had the privilege of visiting several memorials in my lifetime. I have seen the Vietnam Wall Memorial in Washington D.C., the World War II memorial in the Philippines and Arlington National Cemetery. Each of these memorials commemorate the memory of people who gave their life for the freedom of their country. I could not imagine someone going to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and jumping on it or writing graffiti on it. This is the unthinkable because these places are memorials, and memorials are to be honored.
God said that the Lord’s Supper is to be done “in remembrance of me.” Every time you take the Lord’s Supper, you are remembering what He did for you on Calvary. God takes this time of remembrance seriously for it was His Son Who gave His life for the world. There are several things you should do when taking the Lord’s Supper.
First, let it be a time of self-examination. Verse 28 says, “But let a man examine himself…” The Lord’s Supper should be a time when the Christian makes sure that there is no known sin in their life. It is very dangerous to take the Lord’s Supper “unworthily.” Verses 29-30 say, “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” When a person takes the Lord’s Supper with known sin in their life, they are asking God to punish them. You will notice that God says those who have taken it unworthily have ended up “weak…sickly” and some have even died. Always take time before you take the Lord’s Supper to take an honest look at yourself and be sure to get rid of sin.
Second, treat the Lord’s Supper with respect. Remember, this is done in memory of what Jesus did for us on Calvary. The Lord’s Supper is not a time to be talking, but it should be a solemn time. It should be a time of prayer and thanksgiving. You should never take the Lord’s Supper flippantly. Parents need to be sure their children understand the importance of taking the Lord’s Supper and also teach them how to act during it. In fact, I believe it would be wise for parents to have their children sit next to them during this time.
Third, remember what Christ endured on Calvary. When you take the bread, remember how He allowed His body to be bruised, beaten, tortured and broken so that your sins could be paid. Remember when you drink the juice how His blood is the only blood that can atone for sin. Friend, we would not be saved without the blood of Jesus Christ. When you hold the bread or juice in your hand, always take the time to silently pray and thank Jesus Christ for coming to Earth to pay for your sin.
Finally, make the Lord’s Supper a true memorial in your heart and mind. Though Jesus Christ has risen from the grave, what He did for us on Calvary must be properly and reverently remembered. It not only becomes a time of cleansing, but it also becomes a time of motivation to stir us to do more for Him. However regularly your church takes the Lord’s Supper, make it such a sacred time that you do not miss it, nor treat it in a flippant manner for it is the LORD’s memorial.