ODM Daily Inspirational Devotional Messages Bible Verse and Prayers ODM
DCLM Daily Manna
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Reverence or Routine
KEY VERSE
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:28,29).
Bible Reading:
1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (KJV)
17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
When instituted by Jesus Christ and practised by the Church for centuries, the Lord’s Supper was approached with trembling hearts, bowed heads, and searching souls. It was sacred, solemn, and deeply personal. Today, in many places, that reverence has all but vanished. In its place stand glittering stages, choreographed performances, and casual attitudes that trivialise the most solemn ordinance left by the Lord Jesus.
The warning in our text was not to unbelievers, but to the Church. Apostle Paul was speaking to believers who had begun to abuse the holy, replacing the humility of remembrance with thoughtless indulgence. “Let a man examine himself,” he wrote. Not the neighbour. Not the pastor. Not the congregation. Himself.
But how often today do we pause long enough to truly discern the Lord’s body? How often do we come to His table in awe, understanding that this is not a ceremony to be consumed but a sacrifice to be contemplated? Some have turned the Lord’s Supper into a performance. Others have commercialised it. A few have made it a quarterly routine with no soul-searching, no repentance, and no awareness of its gravity. But the bread and the cup were never meant to be mere tokens. They are holy reminders of a torn body and shed blood. To trivialise them is to mock Calvary itself. Judas Iscariot ignored this same warning and did not survive the consequences (John 13:21-27).
The Scripture is simple and clear. To eat and drink unworthily is to attract divine displeasure. It is a self-inflicted consequence, not because the table is cursed, but because the heart approaching it is careless. The silence surrounding this warning in many churches today is deafening. Perhaps it is more convenient to celebrate than to confront. But in failing to teach reverence, we fail to honour the One who gave everything. Let us return. Let the Supper be simple again, solemn again, sacred again. Then we receive the full blessings of the ordinance.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Unworthy partaking of the Lord’s Supper makes many suffer
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
2 Kings 14-15
COMMENTARY
1. The Lord’s Supper: Sacred, Not Routine – The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ Himself as a sacred memorial of His death. It was never meant to be a routine ritual or a performance. It is a solemn occasion for self-examination, repentance, and remembrance of the sacrifice of Calvary.
2. The Warning Against Unworthy Partaking – Paul warns that those who partake unworthily eat and drink damnation to themselves. This is not because the elements are cursed, but because the heart approaching them is careless. The warning is serious: many are weak and sickly, and many sleep (have died) because they failed to discern the Lord’s body.
3. The Call to Self-Examination – “Let a man examine himself.” This is a personal responsibility. We must not examine others or shift the blame. We must come to the table with a penitent heart, having confessed and repented of sin. Self-examination is the key to partaking worthily.
4. The Loss of Reverence in Modern Churches – The devotional laments that reverence for the Lord’s Supper has vanished in many places. It has been replaced with casual attitudes, performances, and commercialisation. This is a tragic departure from the biblical pattern. We must restore the simplicity, solemnity, and sacredness of this ordinance.
5. The DCLM Ministry’s Emphasis on Reverence – The Deeper Christian Life Ministry emphasizes reverence in worship and in the observance of the Lord’s Supper. Pastor Kumuyi teaches that believers must approach the table with holy awe and self-examination. The Daily Manna devotional calls readers to restore reverence for the sacred ordinances of God.
About DCLM and Daily Manna
The Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) was founded in 1973 by Pastor Dr. W.F. Kumuyi. From a small Bible study of 15 students in Lagos, it has grown into a global ministry with churches across Nigeria, Africa, and beyond. The ministry emphasizes holiness, prayer, Bible study, and reverence in worship.
DCLM Daily Manna is a daily devotional written by Pastor Kumuyi. Each edition provides Scripture reading, exposition, and practical application to guide believers in their daily walk with God. The devotional consistently calls readers to approach sacred things with reverence.
Prayer Reflection
Lord, forgive me for the times I have approached Your table carelessly. Teach me to examine myself, to repent of sin, and to discern Your body. Restore reverence in my heart and in Your church. May the Lord’s Supper be sacred, solemn, and meaningful again. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
