December 6, 2024 - Good Morning! It’s Friday, December 6.
Tomorrow is parade day in Center, Texas - our annual lighted, night-time Christmas Parade. Hundreds of people will line the streets around our historic courthouse to see floats and hear bands and have fun! It’s a great local holiday tradition.
Speaking of parades, did you know that one is mentioned in the New Testament? The Apostle Paul, who often used cultural events and traditions as metaphors for the Christian life, describes it in 2 Corinthians 2:14. “Thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession, and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere.”
In Roman times, victorious generals were given parades to celebrate their triumphs. These processions would enter the great capital city through the Triumphant Gate, a portal used only for this purpose. The conquering hero would ride in a huge chariot pulled by four majestic horses, and marching behind him would be those who had been conquered - the captives, the slaves. These Roman spectacles would often have religious overtones and many of the participants would carry incense.
And so we, marching behind Christ, spread the aroma, the knowledge of who He is. Now that’s a parade!
Meet you back here on Monday,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
P.S. - On Monday we’ll begin a series of holiday themed devotions called “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, that will take us to Christmas Eve. Hope you can join us!
