Communion Devotion - "The Door of Humility"
It was my turn to do a communion devotion last Sunday. I really struggled with some different thoughts going through my mind, and I was not feeling the ambition to study them. I was praying about my dilemma one night and all of a sudden an idea popped into my head. It was a post that my dad wrote on his blog, Silver Bullets, called "Bethlehem in Prophecy." It wasn't the fact that the post was about prophecy, it was his picture and explanation about the Church of the Nativity. I wasn't for sure how it was all going to come together, but I was surprised how it did.
When God works in the lives of others - even in small ways like writing a communion devotion, I am not surprised. I know God works that way, but when it happens in my life - it is surprising and humbling. Do you know what I mean? I know that God popped everything in my head, so I could write this communion devotion. Now, that is a lot of pressure. This devotion better be good, right? I guess you will just have to read it and decide for yourself. It gave me something to think about at communion time and maybe that is enough.
In Bethlehem today, there is a church called, "The Church of the Nativity." This church is the traditional site of the birth of Jesus. The main door into this church is so short that even a short person has to bend over to enter. The door is called, "The Door of Humility." Bible commentator, William Barclay, said this of the door, "There is something beautiful in the symbolism that the church where the cave is has a door so low that all must stoop to enter. It is supremely fitting that every man should approach the infant Jesus on his knees."
Humility - Jesus had it. It is the theme that runs through the birth, the life, and the death of Jesus. Philippians 2:5-11 says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Communion time gives us the chance to reflect on Jesus' humility and remind us of the necessity of our own humility. As we take the juice and bread that represents Jesus' blood that was shed and His body that was broken, may we humbly remember that Jesus made himself nothing so that He could die on the cross for our sins, and so that we can live together with Him. It is supremely fitting, for us to approach our Lord, the risen Savior, on our knees.
When God works in the lives of others - even in small ways like writing a communion devotion, I am not surprised. I know God works that way, but when it happens in my life - it is surprising and humbling. Do you know what I mean? I know that God popped everything in my head, so I could write this communion devotion. Now, that is a lot of pressure. This devotion better be good, right? I guess you will just have to read it and decide for yourself. It gave me something to think about at communion time and maybe that is enough.
In Bethlehem today, there is a church called, "The Church of the Nativity." This church is the traditional site of the birth of Jesus. The main door into this church is so short that even a short person has to bend over to enter. The door is called, "The Door of Humility." Bible commentator, William Barclay, said this of the door, "There is something beautiful in the symbolism that the church where the cave is has a door so low that all must stoop to enter. It is supremely fitting that every man should approach the infant Jesus on his knees."
Humility - Jesus had it. It is the theme that runs through the birth, the life, and the death of Jesus. Philippians 2:5-11 says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Communion time gives us the chance to reflect on Jesus' humility and remind us of the necessity of our own humility. As we take the juice and bread that represents Jesus' blood that was shed and His body that was broken, may we humbly remember that Jesus made himself nothing so that He could die on the cross for our sins, and so that we can live together with Him. It is supremely fitting, for us to approach our Lord, the risen Savior, on our knees.
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