11
Let A Man Examine Himself…
| Bro Stewart Gomeza (South Africa)
Children and young people, Dapham, Zambia
T
he Breaking of Bread should not be taken
for granted and hence Paul gives us food
for thought. Paul reminds the brethren at
Corinth as well as us that our position in Christ
is very much like Israels. The 11th chapter of
1 Corinthians is often read by the presiding
brother to introduce the emblems as a way of
focusing our minds on the seriousness of this
simple but essential act.
The bread and wine remind us of the covenant
which binds us to God. As a way of remem-
bering our absent Master, we recognize his
perfection in contrast to our unworthiness,
and we are thankful for the love and forgive-
ness we receive through His sacrifice; we also
re-dedicate our lives to him, bearing in mind
that “with his stripes we are healed”. Our
self-examination should therefore humble us,
and “the love of Christ compels us, because
we are convinced that he died for all, that
those who live should no longer live for them-
selves, but for him who died for them and was
raised again” (2 Cor. 5:14-15).
In the privacy of our minds then we should
examine ourselves and so eat of the bread and
drink of the cup. None of us is without sin,
otherwise there would have been no need for
the sin offering, but “discerning the Lord’s
body” includes remembering that “Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that
ye (we) should follow his steps” (1 Peter
2:21). In our self-examination we should have
the assurance that through Jesus whom we
~ continued ...
Bro Costa Kanembe and son Alijah