Heathy with Strength and Power

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

HEATHY WITH STRENGTH AND POWER

1 Cor 11:27-34

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.

NIV

We would never presume the reason anyone is weak or sick is due to them partaking in communion in an unworthy manner, that is they do not examine themselves or judge themselves fully and have unconfessed sin in their lives. However, this is exactly what Paul is telling these people in Corinth and it would have to apply to us as well. We know what sick is, but what does he mean by weak? In Addition, what does he mean by some have fallen asleep? First, we have to understand that the Greek word translated as weak means feeble, to be without strength or power. This would like being a crippled Christian, without the power of the Spirit at work within us. It would be like appearing to be a Christian as in attending church and maybe even doing some sort of works, or deeds, but without any evidence of the power of the Spirit. So then, any works are much the same as any person could do, working in the flesh, so to speak. But there is no real power present. This falling asleep is much the same as it does not mean death, as that phrase does elsewhere, but this Greek word carries the meaning of repose, resting, doing nothing at all, no power, no evidence at all of any activity of the Spirit, no gifts, no fruit, just living, looking like a Christian. The sick is simply sick, having some illness or infirmities. It is used as when Jesus had compassion on the people and healed all that were sick. Yet, this Greek word also is seen as feeble, weak, unhealthy in that sense. This all happens because people are partaking communion with some hidden sin. This is not that someone has murdered or stole from someone. This is more like having ill-feelings, or unforgiveness, or envy, or jealously, or being critical or even judgmental of someone. This is more like being disobedient, wanting and enjoying feeling the way we do toward another person, because we see them as being wrong, or they have wronged us somehow and that is it, and we are done with them. The fact remains, that if we have anything in our lives, that is not right, we have to make it right, we have to examine ourselves, being truthful with ourselves, taking a deep look inside, and get it out and forgiven, then we can partake, and then we can actually live healtihy and with strength and power.