For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
I Cor. 11:23-26
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This past Wednesday night, one of the pastors at my church gave a message titled: How to Kill Your Soul: Unforgiveness. It was an excellent message, and it got me thinking: In what other ways am I sort of ‘killing my soul’? What habits, practices, mentalities, etc. do I give in to without thinking that are actually drying me up?
This passage reminded me in a roundabout way that another way I kill my soul is: Selfishness
The irony is that selfishness is a total lie from the enemy! Selfishness says, the best way to feel fulfilled is to do whatever you want, when you want, and think about others second. And it seems like that makes sense right? I mean how backwards is it that we might actually find true fulfillment when we die to ourselves, and live completely for other people? It’s complete foolishness to the world. But we follow Jesus, and that’s how he told us we would find life.
So as I reflected on the last supper, Jesus broken body and spilled blood, I realized again that the death and resurrection of Jesus is the starting point of everything. Jesus said, “This is MY body, which is FOR YOU.” He did not think of his body as his own, he knew he came to lay his life down for the world, that all things might be reconciled to him.
When I take the bread and the cup, I must examine myself, be reminded of my unworthiness, and accept again that Jesus gave it all. So that I may pour out my life for others, not live life in Selfishness.
Sixty-six books in a year 