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Wait For and Serve One Another

“So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” Paul  (1 Corinthians 11:33)

Love and Lordship in Focus…Waiting for, or showing deference to, others is a sign of love and humility. No wonder The Holy Spirit directed us to wait for one another even as we gather together as believers to eat…but it’s about much more than just eating.

Today’s “one another” is somewhat interesting in that it is very simple to understand but evidently not always easy to follow through (maybe that’s true of all of the “one anothers” and certainly true apart from Christ). We find it in 1 Corinthians 11:33 where we are told to “wait for each other” when we come together to eat.

In the context it strongly appears to point to those who were giving into their hunger pangs and coming just to fulfill those with no regard to other believers. This caused them to fall or fail in two ways: 1) to wrongly partake of the Lord’s Supper (Communion or Eucharist) because they were more concerned with filling their bellies and flesh rather than acknowledging The Lord’s sacrifice, death and payment on our behalf, and therefore bringing condemnation on themselves (1 Corinthians 11:27); 2) they ate impatiently and indulgently or selfishly (see vv. 17-22) and without thought, care of deference for others, i.e., waiting respectfully on all those who would gather to partake.

Both of these point to a heart that is hardened and not open to humility, generosity and fellowship as it places self above others. It hinders and/or destroys the loving fellowship of believers, which is the desire of Christ for His Bride, The Church.

Seems simple but when we move in our flesh there is a need for the command, not just about eating and partaking properly, but this is only accomplished with hearts of love…loving one another as we wait for and, defer to, one another.

What guides and drives your heart, mind and body (flesh, hunger, lust, selfish desires)…OR humility, graciousness, gratitude, generosity, others above self? Only Jesus can give you the latter and that’s why all the “one anothers” of love and loving are found only in Him!

As we continue with the “one anothers” in Scripture I need to remind myself and, if needed, you will receive this reminder…the “one anothers” are included in Scripture to literally help us love others as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31)…and as Christ has loved us (John 14:15).

However as we spent time sharing previously in these posts we can do neither without first knowing and learning to love God with all we are (Mark 12:29-30) as we prayerfully attempted to do through better knowing His Names. The we must learn to love who we are in Christ (Ephesians 2:10) as we did in the Identity in Christ focus.

Food for Thought…From what or where does your service flow? Is there evidence in your life of your loving relationship with God (not just attending church, giving and serving but time spent in His Word, in prayer and in meditating and listening to and for Him)?

Love in Action –

1. Spend time with Him in His Word and prayer daily – read and study the Scriptures in this post as a way to start
2. Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you
3. How do you practice patience and deference to others? Where do you need to grow in these areas?
4. Take some time to search (and ask The Holy Spirit to search) your heart to find out the source of your serving others?

Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.

Love and Lordship Prayer Focus…Heavenly Father, as I learn to focus on and prioritize You above all else You are teaching and empowering me to place others above self. My I, in humility and deference continue to do so with all people and in so going point them to Christ.  In His Name. Amen.

“So then, my brothers and sisters, when
you come together to eat, wait for one another.” Paul  (1 Corinthians 11:33)

Love and Lordship in Focus
(this is the focus for LandL LIVE)