How precious to realize the desire of our God to have His dear children walking in joy and fellowship with Himself. “Keeping short accounts,” as another has said, is vitally important for each believer, in order that the joy of daily communion and the unhindered joy of fellowship with the Lord when remembering Him in death be maintained.
Even as a pilot of an airplane carefully runs through a checklist to insure that all is well before flying, so it ought to be with believers. “Is there anything about this vessel which would prevent me from enjoying happy fellowship with my Lord?” If so, let it quickly be confessed that fellowship not be hindered. Scripture anticipates that this will occur when it says, “So let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
Let’s consider some things that may hinder happy communion in the remembrance of the Lord.
Sin Is a Hindrance
It is not only that the believer may sin, but he becomes defiled by the sin around him. All sin is against the Lord Jesus, so that if a believer comes to the Lord’s table with unconfessed sin, he cannot enjoy happy fellowship with the Host of that table. But once sin is confessed, that fellowship is restored.
Resentment or Bitterness Is a Hindrance
“Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? . . . Jesus saith . . . Until seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:21-2221Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21‑22)). “Be ye kind . . . tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:3232And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)).
How can one child of God enjoy full and happy fellowship with the Lord Jesus at His table, if he harbors a bitter, unforgiving feeling against another child of God—one for whom Christ died?
No father could happily eat a meal with his family, knowing that one of his dear children held a bitter, hateful spirit against his brother or sister. A child with a bitter spirit against a sibling cannot enjoy full, happy fellowship with his parents. And, further, such a bad spirit would negatively affect the spirit of everyone sitting at the father’s table.
Distractions Are a Hindrance
“Martha was cumbered about much serving. . . . Jesus . . . said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part” (Luke 10:40-4240But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:40‑42)).
Even serving the Lord can create hindrances to enjoying full and happy fellowship at the Lord’s table. Service, though a blessed thing, ought never to get in the way of true, heartfelt worship of our Lord Jesus. And it ought never to be used as an excuse to keep a believer from partaking of the Lord’s supper. “I have desired to eat . . . with you” (Luke 22:1515And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (Luke 22:15)).
“Peter said . . . let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. . . . There came a voice . . . This is My beloved Son: hear Him” (Luke 9:33-3533And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. 34While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. (Luke 9:33‑35)).
Then, too, other believers—servants of Christ—may hinder happy fellowship if they become more important to us than the Lord Jesus Himself. It is the Lord’s supper and the Lord’s table. He is in the midst. The Holy Spirit gathers believers to Him alone. He is the Object of our worship and praise. Let us seek to lay aside all that would distract from happy fellowship with the Lord. We follow this principle in the common occurrences of everyday life. Before a vacation can be fully enjoyed, thoughts of everyday work responsibilities must be laid aside.
When we sit down to remember our Lord, may we spend a quiet time of reflection about Himself and His worthiness. As we walk in communion with Him, what sweet joy there will be in remembering our Lord Jesus in His death, as He has asked us to do.
D. Lamb (adapted)