Take, Bless, Break, Give
“And taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.” (Luke 9:16)
The message at Anderson Hills Church this last week focused on recognizing our spiritual gifts and how we are called to use those in faithful service. And as we received and celebrated Communion, I remembered a few years back, in A Basketful of Faith, as JD Walt was sowing the seeds of the Gospel of Luke with us, he emphasized that Jesus takes what we give to Him, particularly our very selves – He blesses the gift – He breaks the gift – and begins giving (and keeps on giving; imperfect tense) the gift to all those in need.
This gives us a wonderfully rich perspective on our response to the call Jesus places on our lives. And its beauty is even made more powerful by Jesus example. In the last supper, He instituted that which He fulfilled in His own life and death – taken from glory and given to us (incarnation), blessed by the Father (baptism), broken and given (crucifixion) for all. And in The Lord’s Supper, not only do we proclaim this truth, but we see how Jesus keeps on giving Himself for all who will receive.
May weight of this glory in-Spirit us with courage and resolve to live according to His example.
Forgive us, Lord, for fearing and resisting being broken in Your hands. Humble us to be given by You… however You will… to whomever You will.
Take me – I am not my own. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Bless me – anoint, gift, and give me for Your purpose. (Exodus 30:30; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
Break me – reveal and cleanse away all that is not of You. (1 John 1:7-10)
Give me – as a faithful servant and witness in Holy Love. (Matthew 25:23; Acts 1:8, 20:24)