Act of Devotion
Originally scheduled for July 19
One of the characteristics of young lovers is
an act of devotion. We see this in the Bible as well, perhaps most
clearly in the story of the widow’s mite. An act of devotion has
three primary characteristics:
·
It is extremely expensive to the
giver, either in money or pride. The widow, you will recall, put in
all she had to live on. She could’ve done less; she did have two
coins. But she didn’t.
·
In the world’s eyes an act of
devotion is either useless or an extravagant expense. The widow’s
mite would appear to be useless amidst the coffers of the Temple. An
example of extravagance would be the perfume poured on Jesus feet by
the prostitute. Even the disciples said she should’ve sold it and
given the money to the poor.
·
The motive for an act of devotion is
always the same: love. In a sense we use it here, it is love for
God.
God loves and cares for us. We can see this in
a number of ways, the first being the fact that we exist. We
borrowed the very idea of existing from the great “I Am.” We were
told in the Scriptures that his “mercy is new every morning” — in
other words, it’s very good for us that God does not have a short
temper. Perhaps most of all for the Christian God cares for us by
providing hope. The grave is not the end.
Which brings us to the thought that the
sacrifice on the cross is God’s act of devotion to us. It certainly
meets the test of being expensive to the giver. After all, God could
have sent us just another prophet. He didn’t; he sent his son.
Things don’t get much more expensive than that.
In the world’s eyes, his sacrifice on the cross
was a waste. After all, he could’ve come as the conquering King. God
could’ve arranged things to have been much less expensive and much
more valued in the eyes of the shrewd.
When you partake of communion, you are
remembering God’s act of devotion. You are acknowledging that he did
this for you. Despite the expense, despite the extravagance, Christ
died for your sins. It is well said, “no greater love has any man
than he lay down his life for his friend.” There is no greater love,
no greater expense, no greater extravagance than the sacrifice on
the cross. As you partake this morning remember the intense love God
has shown for you. Then ask yourself, have you returned this love to
him?
