Today’s devotion is Luke 22:14-23 which covers the Lord’s Supper. Here is the link –
We will focus on verses 15, 19, and 20.
“15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
…
19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
Notice how Jesus “earnestly desired” to eat this Lord’s Supper with His disciples. I think that this is a good topic for this devotion. The following Scriptures show the importance of being earnest in our Christian walk.
Let us get a better understanding of the meaning of the word “earnest“. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “earnest” as “a serious and intent mental state“. Click here: Earnest – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Exodus 15:26
“And He said, ” If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.”
“And He said, ” If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.”
Psalm 63:1
“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
Proverbs 7:15
“Therefore I have come out to meet you, To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you.”
“Therefore I have come out to meet you, To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you.”
Hosea 5:15
“I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
“I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
Jonah 1:14
“Then they called on the LORD and said, “We earnestly pray, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O LORD, have done as You have pleased.”
“Then they called on the LORD and said, “We earnestly pray, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O LORD, have done as You have pleased.”
Jonah 3:8
“But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.”
“But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.”
Sometimes, after I sin, I make a quick prayer with head held high and with divided attention. This prayer is not earnest. In a sense, although I “prayed”, I was silent as described in the following Psalm 32:3-4.
“3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.”
Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.”
But, then I come to my senses. I lie down on the carpet with my face down in the carpet. This prayer is earnest.
“5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.” Psalm 32:5.
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.” Psalm 32:5.
Sometimes, after I experience financial troubles, I feel the need to pray earnestly. To do so, I know that I need to go to a spot in nearby Gulfport that has a bench near the sea wall overlooking Boca Ciega Bay. And, I pour out my heart to God in prayer.
In our Scripture for today, Jesus “earnestly desired” to eat the Lord’s Supper with His disciples. Do we “earnestly desire” communion with both our Lord and fellow Christians? Or, do we partake with head held high and with divided attention?
We may feel quite righteous. But, are we “earnest”? Are we serious and intent to focus on our Lord and fellow saints? Do we meditate on the meaning of communion? Do we examine ourself as to whether or not we first need to be reconciled to a fellow brother?
Do we earnestly love our God and our neighbor to the extent that we earnestly desire the Lord’s Supper?
But, there is hope!
We can “earnestly” pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 “and (we can) put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:24 (Parenthetical addition is mine.)
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 