Deepening Understanding of Sacraments Through Personal Reflection
Personal reflection, often termed self-examination, is a spiritual discipline encouraged in Christian tradition, particularly in preparation for participating in sacraments like the Lord's Supper [3, 6]. This practice involves a careful and prayerful assessment of one's spiritual state, motives, and understanding of divine truths [3].
The biblical basis for self-examination is found in passages that enjoin believers to "examine yourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5) [3]. Specifically concerning the Lord's Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:28 instructs, "Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup." This examination aims to ensure that participants approach the sacrament with proper faith in Jesus and a clear understanding of its significance, discerning "the Lord's body" represented by the bread and wine [6]. Without such discernment, partaking could be seen as unworthy [6].
This process of reflection is not merely an intellectual exercise but involves the whole person. The psalmist expresses a desire to "understand the teaching of your precepts" and then to "meditate on your wondrous works" (Psalm 119:27) [1]. Meditation, in this context, implies a careful and prayerful consideration, akin to "digestion" of spiritual food to assimilate it into one's being [4]. The apostle Paul similarly urged Timothy to "meditate carefully upon" spiritual matters and to "give thyself wholly to" them, suggesting complete absorption and dedication [4]. This deep engagement allows for a more profound understanding of spiritual mysteries, as Paul noted that by reading, one can "perceive my discernment in the sacred secret of the Christ" (Ephesians 3:4) [2].
Self-examination should be undertaken with "holy awe" and "diligent search," accompanied by prayer for divine guidance, asking God to "search me, O God, and know my heart" (Psalm 26:2; 139:23-24) [3, 7]. It also involves a commitment to amendment, as seen in Psalm 119:59, "I considered my ways and turned my feet to your testimonies" [3]. This reflective process helps individuals to redirect their emotions toward the Lord, preventing excessive self-reflection that might become an end in itself rather than a means to spiritual growth [8].
The benefits of such reflection are manifold. It can lead to a clearer conscience and assurance before God (1 John 3:20-22) and helps believers to avoid divine judgment (1 Corinthians 11:31) [3]. It also encourages individuals to "prove their own work" (Galatians 6:4), fostering personal responsibility in their faith [3, 5]. While the human heart can be deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), making self-examination challenging, the discipline is nevertheless enjoined as necessary for spiritual maturity and a deeper engagement with the sacraments [3, 9]. The goal is not to treat spiritual practices as mere rituals but to engage with them thoughtfully, allowing them to transform one's understanding and life [9].
Sources
- Psalms “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. -- Psalms 119:27”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 3:4 (Rotherham) — Respecting which ye can, by reading, perceive my discernment in the sacred secret of the Christ,—”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Examination — Enjoined -- 2Co 13:5. Necessary before the communion -- 1Co 11:28. Cause of difficulty in -- Jer 17:9. Should be engaged in With holy awe. -- Ps 4:4. With diligent search. -- Ps 77:6; La 3:40. With prayer for divine searching. -- Ps 26:2; 139:23,24. With purpose of amendment. -- Ps 119:59; La 3:40. Advantages of -- 1Co 11:31; Ga 6:4; 1Jo 3:20-22.”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:15: Meditate--Greek, "Meditate CAREFULLY upon" (Psa 1:2; Psa 119:15; compare "Isaac," Gen 24:63). these things-- (Ti1 4:12-14). As food would not nourish without digestion, which assimilates the food to the substance of the body, so spiritual food, in order to benefit us, needs to be appropriated by prayerful meditation. give thyself wholly to--literally, "BE in these things"; let them engross thee wholly; be wholly absorbed in them. Entire self-dedication, as in other pursuits, so especially in religion, is the secret of proficiency. There are chan”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:15: Appeal to their own powers of judgment to weigh the force of the argument that follows: namely, that as the partaking of the Lord's Supper involves a partaking of the Lord Himself, and the partaking of the Jewish sacrificial meats involved a partaking of the altar of God, and, as the heathens sacrifice to devils, to partake of an idol feast is to have fellowship with devils. We cannot divest ourselves of the responsibility of "judging" for ourselves. The weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use, but its abuse. We should t”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 11:28: Let a man examine himself - Let him try whether he has proper faith in the Lord Jesus; and whether he discerns the Lord's body; and whether he duly considers that the bread and wine point out the crucified body and spilt blood of Christ.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 26:1: Ps 26 In this individual lament, the psalmist prays for redemption on the basis of his own innocence and the Lord’s justice. 26:1-3 The psalmist opens himself to divine examination of his life, especially in the areas of his character and devotion.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 4:5: 4:5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit: Redirecting emotions toward the Lord prevents a godly individual from doing too much self-reflection (40:6-8; 51:17).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 14:20: 14:20 To be mature in understanding such matters, one must consider the purpose of spiritual gifts and not treat them as ends in themselves for one’s own enjoyment.”