Just One Drop

Because I have Celiac Disease, I have to be vigilant in looking out for possible sources of gluten (bread being the most obvious).  This also forces me to plan ahead where anything edible is concerned, so I am certain to have food I can eat when the need arises.  Even communion poses a problem for me if I haven’t planned ahead.  I know Jesus is fine with me skipping the bread part, if need be, but I’d rather partake fully.

As part of a wonderful worship service at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, communion was served.  I had come prepared with my little piece of corn cracker to take when the others had regular matzo.  I was safe . . . or was I?  When the elements were being passed down the rows, I realized the people were reaching over the little wooden goblets on the tray to pick up their piece of bread.  Since only one crumb dropped into the cup would create a problem for me, I kept my eye on the cups farthest away from the bread.  Reaching for one of those safe cups, I hesitated a moment when it looked like they were almost empty.  Since it was my only choice, however, I picked up the cup.

As the elements continued to be distributed, I considered more carefully what I had in my hands.  When I looked at that single drop of wine in the bottom of my goblet, I sensed the Lord reminding me, “It only took one drop.” Wow!  Jesus only had to shed one drop of His perfect, sinless blood to cover all our sins . . . but He gave so much more than was required.  He gave it all!  Superabundant sacrifice!  Superabundant forgiveness!  Superabundant mercy!  Superabundant grace!  Superabundant love!  For you.  For me.

Ephesians 3:17-19 AMP  ¹⁷ May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, ¹⁸ that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; ¹⁹ [that you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

Advertisement

The Great Equalizer

It occurred to me on the way home from church yesterday, as I observed the beauty of the snow all around, that snow is the great equalizer.  It covers unsightly land, making one place as pretty as every other.  It can even cover a huge landfill of garbage and makes it look like a beautiful, unblemished hill.  With the snow, even the uneven places are leveled, so that the rough places become smooth.  Sure, we know that the ground underneath is still rough, uneven, and in some places unsightly.  For the moment, however, when it’s covered with snow we see it as beautiful.

Isaiah 42:16 I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.

Isaiah 40:4-5 ⁴ Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.  ⁵ And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

How like God to make Himself known to those who will see – right in the midst of a weather phenomenon!  He washed us with the perfect and precious blood of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, and we became whiter than snow.  Our sins have been forever covered.  While snow is the great equalizer of the landscape, Jesus’ blood is the great equalizer of men!

Psalm 51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Covered by His blood, He sees every one of us as whiter and brighter than the pristine snow-covered landscape on a sunny morning with crystal-clear blue skies.  God knows the sins were there before, but now and for all eternity He knows and sees only the righteousness of Christ.  All those imperfect places in us are made plain and smooth – perfected in Christ.  All those things that make us unequal in the natural and even less than human in some cultures, are of no consequence in God’s eyes – because we are in Christ.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

It is for this purpose that Christ came – that we might be in Him, cleansed from our sins for all time.  Let’s celebrate this Christmas by receiving the fullness of His gift to us.  Let’s look at ourselves and others as He does – whiter than snow – all because of His blood.  Jesus’ blood – the great equalizer!