There are some truths in life that are hard to ignore, no matter how hard we try. Every coin has two sides, every story has two or more sides/perspectives. The same is true with Communion. There’s the side of communion where we focus on the grace of God. The mercy extended to us through the loving acts of Jesus by which he took our sin on his shoulders. We reflect on what he has done for us, while looking forward to his triumphant return.

But there’s another side. A painful side that could involve God’s judgement. It’s the uncomfortable side that we don’t want to consider or give much thought to.

Communion stems from the Passover Festival, which was given to the people of Israel as a way to remember how God delivered them from the oppression of Pharaoh. You can read about it in Exodus 12.

Because Pharaoh refused to listen to God, he received God’s judgement. He received God’s discipline for failing to obey. As a result, death abound throughout Egypt.

There’s a side of communion that we don’t like to discuss. It’s not pretty, but it is just as real as God’s grace and mercy. It’s God’s judgement. His discipline for disobedience. The mercy Israel experienced came on the heels of Pharaoh's judgment. As Israel was instructed to remember, how could the mothers and fathers in Egypt ever forget?

Some of the believers in Corinth had become more concerned with themselves than others. Rather than considering others as more important than themselves (Philippians 2:3), some were only concerned about themselves. Rather than worshiping God, they were participating in religious activities that made themselves feel better. Their heart was out of alignment and their behavior reflected it.

'When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this! '-- 1 Corinthians 11:20-22

When we observe the Lords Supper/Communion, we are to examine ourselves. This means that we are to check our heart, motives and behaviors. Is there any area of our life where we are not walking in obedience to God’s commands?

One way we observe communion in an “unworthy manner” is by publicly claiming Christs sacrifice for ourselves while living in willful disobedience. It’s to claim union with Jesus while willing gossiping about our neighbor. It's to claim union with Jesus and detesting those He died for. It's claiming to be one with Christ, simply for appearance sake. This is not the union or unity Jesus prayed for. Jesus prayed that we would walk in unity, with God and one another. (John 17:20-21)

This weekend we are going to observe communion.

Might I encourage you to examine yourself?

Here’s some questions to get the ball rolling.

• Is there an area of my life that God is convicting me to change, but I continue to ignore?

• Am I seeking God for who He is, or for what I want Him to do for me?

• As much as it depends upon me, am I living at peace with others?

• Do my actions reflect a belief that I am to love and serve others like Jesus Christ? Or…do my actions reflect a self absorbed nature?

If we could only learn from history.

If we could only learn from examples of the past, like the consequences Pharaoh experienced because of his refusal to obey. Refusing to surrender to God; a willful disobedience to the Word of God brings judgement. It’s sin and sin breads death. We are to examine ourselves because it gives us a chance to repent and bring glory to God rather than judgement upon ourselves. Unchecked sin, will always lead to death…whether spiritual or physical. The problem with judgment, like Pharaohs… it doesn’t just affect us. It affects others around us. This is true of repentance. When we repent, when we obey God’s Word, others get a chance to experience Jesus Christ through us.