Men who “wait on the Lords table” (i.e., who lead prayers of thanksgiving for the emblems and/or who serve the elements) have an important work. “By love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13). “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess. 5:17-18).
Men who “preside” (i.e., who deliver words of edification to the assembly before the Lord’s Supper is actually eaten) fill a vital role, too. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4:29).
Throughout the course of my life, I have noticed that sometimes very little (or nothing) is said before we partake of “the Lord’s table” (1 Cor. 10:21). Are we in such a rush that no words of edification may be uttered? Is it possible that we are throwing away opportunities to establish saints in “the present truth” (2 Pet. 1:12; cf. vv. 13, 15)?
May I make a suggestion to those who “preside” at the table? Please consider reading—and commenting on—any one (or more) of the following passages of Scripture: Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Matthew 27:32-56; Mark 15:21-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 10:11-18; 12:24; 15:13; 19:16-37; Acts 2:22-36; 3:12-26; 4:8-12; 5:29-32; 10:34-43; 13:16-43; Romans 5:6-10; 8:34; 14:7-9; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:23-29; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Ephesians 2:11-18; Colossians 1:9-22; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; Hebrews 1:1-3, 8-9; 2:9-11, 14-18; 4:14-16; 5:8-9; 9:11-28; 10:1-10, 19-23; 13:20-21; 1 Peter 1:18-21; 2:20-25; 3:17-18; 1 John 2:1-2; 3:16; 4:7-16; Revelation 1:4-8, 12-18; 5:1-6, 9-14.
These Scriptures are only a small sample of texts appropriate in “helping to prepare our minds.” Really, anything in the Bible that talks about the love, grace, forgiveness of God, the sacrifice of Jesus, his blood, death, burial, resurrection, etc. is appropriate.
Mark it down and mark it well: All who partake of the Lord’s Supper have a fearsome task before God. And any mental detachment or non-preparation on either the part of the one who “presides” (Jas. 3:1) or on the part of the one who partakes (1 Cor. 11:27-29, 34) is just asking to be “cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God” (Rev. 14:19).
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip (Heb. 2:1).
“Think on these things.”
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Truth Magazine L:7, p.214
April 6, 2006
phillip w. martin 