Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 11:17-22.

 

“¹⁷ But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.  ¹⁸ For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you;  and in part I believe it.  ¹⁹ For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.  ²⁰ Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, ²¹ for in your eating each one takes his own supper first;  and one is hungry and another is drunk.  ²² What!  Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink?  Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing?  What shall I say to you?  ShallI praise you?  In this I will not praise you.”  1 Corinthians 11:17-22.

 

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Paul admonishes the Corinthians:  “because you come together not for the better but for the worse.”, “that divisions exist among you”, and “in your eating (the Lord’s Supper) each one takes his own supper first;  and one is hungry and another is drunk.”

 

As a practical application to us of today’s Scripture, we can seek to come together for the better.  We can remember and apply 1 Corinthians 10:24:  “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.”  Let us encourage one another and edify one another. 

 

What does our brother or sister do well that we can encourage?  What word or action can we say or do that will build them up?  

 

“and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another;  and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  Hebrews 10:24-25.

 

The Holy Spirit will prompt us to encourage and edify:  “Say this word of encouragement to her!” and “Do this action for him!”  And, we will joyfully follow that prompting of the Spirit:  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.