With Reverence and Awe

Meditations for the Season of Christmas 

December 30, 2022

With Reverence and Awe

This is my last meditation for 2022, and I am closing the year with a prayer for you. First, a bit of context. A Methodist pastor from Central Pennsylvania I follow on social media recently posted this:

“Compared to historic liturgies, a few things stand out about modern services:

—MUCH less Scripture

—More pastor-centric

—Lord's Supper isn't central

—Prayers are mostly extempore & not as theologically rich

—More sentimental

—Avoid death, judgment, hell.”

I smiled as I read his assessment of modern worship services and thought of the contrast between his observation and my experience in our local church. The sacrament of Holy Communion is central to every worship service. During Advent instead of the themes of Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love which are traditionally represented in the Advent wreath, our study was on the four last things: death, judgement, heaven, and hell. We had rich class discussions each week that truly enhanced our Christmas celebration.

My prayer for you in 2023, wherever you worship our Risen Savior, is that your worship is fully grounded in the Word of God, that Jesus is fully glorified, and when you celebrate the presence of Christ in Holy Communion, your service is thoughtful and deliberate.

My Takeaway, and My Prayer for you:

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for indeed our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29 NRSV)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.