Monday January 1, 2024

Today is New Year’s Day 2024. As a new year begins, we are exploring what the Bible says about new beginnings.

As I enter a time of prayer, I pause and become still. I calm my thoughts and silence my mind. I breathe deeply and slowly, and center myself upon the presence of God.

Pause and Pray

Holy God, in the peace of these morning moments, I long to experience your presence. Come Holy Spirit, reveal the new things you want for me in this new year. Enable me to hear the message you have for me in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

I sing a new song to God and rejoice with his holy people using the ancient words of Psalm 33.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:1-4

Pause and Pray

A Covenant is an agreement or contract that God initiates with humanity. There are many Covenants in the Bible: with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. In the institution of the Lord’s Supper, Jesus creates a New Covenant in his blood. The Bible contrasts between the Old and New Covenants, demonstrating the superiority of the New Covenant God made with humanity through Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus chose a loaf of bread, blessed it, broke it into pieces and gave it to the disciples. All four gospel accounts of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20) as well as the early account of the church sharing in Holy Communion (1 Corinthians 11) include these four actions – choose, bless, break, and give. Jesus himself was chosen, blessed, broken through his suffering and death and given to the world. We, as Christ’s followers, are also chosen, blessed, broken and given. Christ is broken for us and we in turn are broken for others. (Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved). When we offer ourselves to God in this new year of 2024, he takes all of us including our brokenness and lovingly creates something beautiful and new.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

The words of the Covenant are passed on to me as the same words shared with Christian believers through the centuries. I remember these words of institution every time I participate in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The bread is Christ’s body broken for me. Jesus was betrayed, hung on the cross, shed blood, suffered and died. This offering is for me, unworthy as I am to receive it. The cup of Jesus Christ is the New Covenant. A Covenant of blood that was shed. The Old Testament Covenants required the shedding of the blood of animals for the forgiveness of sins, now Jesus’ blood is shed on my behalf, to forgive my sins, even mine. I consider the many sins I have committed throughout my life until this very moment. I remember the many times I have trespassed against God and others. In awe, I consider the possibility that all my sins could be forgiven and erased through this New Covenant.

Ask: How does the reality of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ inform the state of my soul? What do the bread and the cup of Christ mean to me personally?

Pause and Pray

God, thank you for your gracious mercy offered to me through your son Jesus. Enable me to receive the truth that is passed on to me from former generations. Help me to comprehend the amazing grace given to me through the breaking of the bread and offering of the cup. I envision myself in your New Covenant with humanity through Jesus Christ. I read Paul’s words again and listen for the message you have for me.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

As I carefully read this familiar passage of scripture, I seek God’s fresh word for me today. I want to know what the Lord has for me in this new year of 2024 and fully embrace my future. I consider how I have been blessed by Jesus and give thanks for my many blessings. I ask for God’s continued blessing for my future. I pause to consider my brokenness. I have places that have been broken by the world, broken by relationships and broken by circumstances. There are broken pieces of my heart, broken dreams and disappointments. I give all my brokenness to the Lord. I offer myself to God a living sacrifice in union with Christ’s offering for me and pray God will use me in the upcoming year for his kingdom.

Lord, God, I invite you into my circumstances and situation. I invite you into my heart and soul. Thank you for choosing me and calling me your beloved child. Thank you for blessing me. Break my heart for what breaks yours. Take the brokenness of my soul and use me to serve your kingdom for your glory. Amen.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Jeremiah 31:31-33

As I leave this time of prayer, I go into a new year offering myself to the Lord and looking for ways God will use me for his kingdom work.

Amen