{"id":36133,"date":"2023-12-31T03:30:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-31T11:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=36133"},"modified":"2023-12-30T16:57:09","modified_gmt":"2023-12-31T00:57:09","slug":"december-31-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2023\/12\/31\/december-31-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"December 31, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"\"<\/h2>\n

Swan Song<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cWatch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.\u201d<\/em> 1 Corinthians 16:13-14<\/p>\n

What can be said at the closing ceremonies? The athletes have run, the skaters have skated, the jumpers have jumped. Everyone did their best; all worked hard to do what their coach asked of them. It is finished.<\/em><\/p>\n

Life isn\u2019t a competition, thankfully. The Christians\u2019 closing ceremonies will look different from those of the athletes. Ours will be in heaven, where we will cast whatever imperishable crowns we receive at the feet of Jesus, who deserves all the crowns there ever were.<\/p>\n

The only words I want to hear at that Closing Ceremony are these:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 25:23).<\/p>\n

I struggled mightily in considering all I could say in this final devotional. I concluded that all has been said that should have been said. \u201cHaving done all, to stand.\u201d<\/em> Jesus had three years to conduct His ministry; we have had ten. If the important stuff hasn\u2019t been said yet, more time won\u2019t get the job done.<\/p>\n

I leave you, then, with a prayer.<\/p>\n

Father, You have been faithful to us all the years of our lives, just as You promised. You have written us on the palms of Your hands; You have held us close when we were afraid; You have drawn us back when we meandered away, never letting us stray so far that we could not return. You have taught us, guided us, gifted us, and provided for us. May our collective \u201cthank You\u201d today be the incense of prayer to You.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>You are bigger than we know; You give far more than we deserve; Your thoughts and ways are beyond us. For us, there is no God but You. In Your divine plan, You gave Your Son to be our salvation, and in that act, You became God-With-Us, Emmanuel.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>And now, Father, make our faith strong. As the tribulation in the world increases until the Final Day, make us confident of our hope in You. Remind us of all You have taught. May Your Word be our thoughts, hidden so deeply that nothing can shake us. Keep on showing us how to love others\u2014and how to love You. And most of all, show Yourself to be a very real and noticeable Presence in our lives.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.\u201d<\/em> Revelation 22:21<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>

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