O Holy Night
2002 Advent Devotion Collection
December 13
READING: I Corinthians 11.23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." I Corinthians 11.23-24
If each of us were asked to give the
meaning of what Jesus was saying that night in the Upper Room and put
it in one word, I wonder what word we would select. What word do you think
would best describe the atmosphere of that night when Jesus was describing
to his chosen twelve what would be happening in the hours to come? The
word I would have to pick would be "love." Can you pick a word
with any more meaning that could describe Christ's decision to do what
he did for each one of us?
With the snap of a finger, He could
change what was going to happen in the next hours, but in order for each
of us to take the bread knowing it is His body and that we would be forgiven
and cleansed, He chose to give His life. This had to be the greatest act
of love that we will ever read about or be able to describe. All the special
gifts and powers from God are his expressions of love, and love goes on
forever.
Let us now be in that atmosphere of love that God planned for us so many years ago.
PRAYER: Our Heavenly Father, Let us be in the attitude of sincere worship as we look to you, and express our gratitude for the greatest of all gifts to men. Let us be ready to give ourselves to you that you shall have cause for rejoicing in this season of giving and receiving, and we ask that you give us your grace to truly love one another. Amen. -- Don L.
Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
(217) 428-4336