For communion this past Sunday we meditated on Christ, The Lord of the Feast. For many of us our faith tradition rightly emphasizes the need for solemn self-examination in approaching the Lord’s Table. In doing so we’ve unintentionally neglected another important biblical emphasis: the Lord’s Table is meant to increase our assurance of pardon and reassure of his steadfast love. Yes, it’s a Table for repentant sinners. But it’s still a Table for sinners. 

Accordingly, many of us often approach the Lord’s Table suspicious of his grace. We think that God’s called us to the Table “to get us” rather than than to reassure us. In the end, even his desire to reassure of his love through the Lord’s Supper is meant to lead us to ongoing repentance and faith, as his goodness and grace always do. 

To illustrate how suspicious of grace we are when coming to the Lord’s Table, we referenced the film Babette’s Feast. An entire congregation grows suspicious about an extravagant meal being provided by a loyal housekeeper. The film provides a convicting reflection of the way we often approach the Lord’s Supper-suspicious of grace. It also displays the unifying results within a congregation when we boast in his lavish grace and nothing else. 

Everything, dear friend, that makes you to differ from the common sinner is the gift of God’s grace to you. You know it is.

Perhaps, my dear brother, there is a difference between you and other saints. I am sure there is reason for some saints to eclipse others, for some professors are very poor things indeed. Well, brother, you have a great deal more faith than others; where did you get it? If you received it from anywhere but from God, you had better get rid of it.

Dear brother, you have more joy than some, and possibly you feel ashamed of your fellow Christians who are so doubting and sad: beware that you do not become vain of your joy, and remember, that if your joy is true joy you received it of the Lord. Are you more useful than others? You cannot help looking at certain professors who are idle, and wishing that you could stir them up. I know I do; I would put a sharp pin into their downy cushions if I could: but for all that who gives us activity, who gives us usefulness, who gives us zeal, who gives us courage, who gives us everything?

If you, dear friend, get into such a condition that you begin to whisper to yourself, “I have improved my gifts and graces at a very noble rate, and am getting on exceedingly well in spiritual things,” you will soon have to come down from your high places. If you register yourself A 1 at Lloyd’s I will not sail with you, brother, for I fear your proud barque will tempt the tempest. I would rather sail with some poor Christian man whose weather-beaten vessel would go to the bottom if Jesus were not on board, for I am persuaded he is safe. “Blessed is the man that feareth always.”

Blessed is the man who lies low at the foot of the cross, and who, concerning everything that he has, whether temporal or spiritual, ascribes all to the Giver of all Good.

-C.H. Spurgeon. “Pride Catechized and Condemned” A sermon (No. 1271) delivered on January 2, 1876, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle.