Examine Your Heart, Stay Awake for Christ
January 5, 2025 · 2:06:23 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
This first communion service of the new year opened with worship and the reading of Psalm 103, then turned to the story of Haman and Mordecai in the book of Esther. Despite wealth, position, and honor, Haman let one small offense - Mordecai refusing to bow - poison his heart, until his hatred consumed him and the gallows he built for another became his own end.
The preacher warned that we, too, store up grudges like jars of preserves, dating each offense and reopening them in the next argument, until the bitterness ferments and bursts. Drawing on Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3, he urged the church to put off anger, malice, and pride, to put on Christ, and to forgive one another as Christ forgave us. Before sharing the bread and cup, each believer was called to search his own heart and receive blessing rather than judgment.
After communion, a New Year message from 1 Thessalonians 5 called the church to stay awake and sober. The whole world sleeps in spiritual darkness or staggers drunk on sin, but the children of light watch for the Lord's return. If you imagine only a week left to live and know something needs fixing, being ready means correcting it today, not postponing it.
Key Points
- Like Haman, a single nursed offense can grow until it destroys the one who clings to it.
- We tend to seal up old hurts and reopen them in new conflicts; let them go before they ferment into bitterness.
- The gospel first shows us our true condition before God, not merely that we are loved.
- Put off anger, malice, and pride; put on Christ and forgive as you have been forgiven.
- Examine your own heart before communion so you receive blessing, not judgment.
- The world sleeps in darkness or is drunk on sin, but children of the day stay sober and watchful.
- Being ready for Christ means correcting today what His Spirit shows you, not delaying it.
Devotional
Before you come to the table, let the Lord search your heart for any offense you are still holding. Like a jar sealed and forgotten in the dark, an old grudge only ferments until it bursts. Christ did not store up your sins against you; He poured out forgiveness and mercy instead. Lay down your anger today, put on His likeness, and live awake, so that whenever He comes He finds you ready.
“The gallows Haman built for another became the end of his own life.”
“We seal up old offenses like jars and reopen them in the next argument.”
“Being ready is not waiting to fix things later; it is fixing them today.”
