Meditation: December 30

“You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new.” Leviticus 26:10

Eating the old harvest is not a call to gluttony, but rather a challenge to release and dispense all that should be used. It is when we hoard what ought to be distributed that disqualifies one from full participation with God. His intention is to use each of His servants as conduit to reach others with what flows through us. As we enter into this New Year with and open heart and a clear conscience, room is available in us for an abundance of blessings from God to reach us. Yesterdays promises made and commitments are the opportunities to prove ones integrity when we rest at the end of the day with completed tasks. A fresh vision is given to visionaries who provide the impetus to see the old ones come to pass. The Spirit of God will grace the soul who is led to believe His Word and act accordingly. God wills to do a new thing among us. The New is before us, while the old is awaiting our consumption in order to make room.

Meditation: December 29

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.” Psalm 49:3

When truth is established within the heart, the mouth will speak wisdom. The truth spoken will come from the overflow as the Holy Spirit guides the heart in the direction of Christ. As we see Him as He is, we will be enabled to speak not carelessly and without merit, but the words of our mouths will be His Word in us flowing through us. His Word is life-changing and compelling. We are changed and enabled to advance beyond the level of merely chasing after a dream or even out of our emptiness, using the pain of separation as a means of creative expression. We are complete in Him and can find rest in Him. Our pursuit will only be, as Paul the Apostle stated; “that we may apprehend that for which we were apprehended.” We are compelled by love to do His will for the advancement of His Kingdom. Our Words are carefully chosen because we are being led by the Holy Spirit to only speak what He is saying and to participate fully in what the Father is doing. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth will speak.

Meditation: December 28

“A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.” Proverb 1:5

It is a mark of wisdom to listen attentively rather than talking. It is the meditations of the heart that will adhere to the soul. Only then will wisdom become a part of you. Otherwise, the information will merely pass through the head and become information used to impress others, Questions asked reveal interest. It is wise to be aware that there is much to be learned in light of the little that is known. The disciple will seek out wisdom where it may be found. Then there can be a foundation laid for more truth to be attached.”For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”(Luke 8:18). The learner is wise enough to learn. The fool is content with what he thinks he already knows. Listen well with an open heart to truth, and the Spirit of God will give you understanding. 

Meditation: December 27

“Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. (21) Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” John 12:20-21

Even though the pursuit of wisdom was common among the Greeks, the wisdom that they were attaining was not complete. The wisdom sought by the majority of them was from philosophers and Stoics who could bring them to a state of enlightenment in order for them to trust in what they had learned. This was the greatest level of achievement for them, that is, to attain wisdom. Yet there were certain Greeks that broke rank with the majority. There will always be some who will stand out among the crowd. They will not settle for what others have embraced as their Utopian dream. These few came to worship at the feast. These are the ones with a special inquiry, Instead of the wisdom of the Greeks, they wished to see Jesus. They believed that He could offer them something that was more important and enlightening than all others combined would ever come to know. To be introduced to Jesus is the transitional and transformational point of one’s life. When our inquiry is sincere, the message will reach His ears and He will make Himself known to us.

Meditation: December 26

“Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34- 35

Births are produced out of pain. The agony of a mother in labor will eventually end at the bringing forth of her newborn child. God had sent forth His Son into a hostile world to rule and reign over it. But those who would subject themselves to His reign had to be born into His kingdom. All others would challenge and work at undermining His authority. His coming on the world scene would produce promotion among those to whom God willed to promote, but the demotion of any whose reign God arbitrarily decided to bring to an end. What had been introduced through the law and the prophets was now personified and fulfilled in one person. None could remain neutral to. His  presence. Jesus would either bring the best out of them or the worst out of them. When confronted with Jesus, whatever resides within the hearts of individuals is brought to the surface. And those who fully identify will suffer with Him as partakers of what would be measured against Him even to this day. If we are willing to go into labor with Him for souls, we too will experience new births, but an earnest desire for genuine conversions will come with a price.

Meditation: December 25

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2

The sign of His coming was evident among the shepherds and the Magi. There was an atmosphere of excitement and intrigue among them because what had been long anticipated had finally arrived. The birth of a new hope for all of Israel was indicated by His star shining in the night. This was not just any star, but a new star. It was especially there and shone brighter than any other. The signal from heaven prompted a deeper and more intense degree of worship. When Jesus is among His people, it is their responsibility to seek Him out. None are to remain where they were, but to follow the sign. In that direction they will find a living hope pointing towards the future of many generations to come. The Word made flesh dwelling among us is our only hope. It cannot be found in the dark solemn halls of institutions of learning. Nor is it available among the historical chambers of politicians. It is in the place of worship where Jesus is seen, heard, and experienced. The question that should be upon all lips this Christmas is, “where is He”, so that earnest seekers will seek Him out. He will make Himself known among those who seek Him with all of their hearts. 

Meditation: December 24

 “And thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

The long awaited Messiah was to come through a meek and humble virgin. She was to carry within her womb the answer to every question and the solution to every problem. The deepest questions in life are related to sins. They are multifaceted and pervasive as to penetrate every aspect of life. Sin was deeply woven into the fabric of man’s soul and conscience. He could not save Himself, but was in need of a Savior. Jesus would first come to fully identify with sinners as being his people. He became one of us thus fully identifying with every challenge that we may face in life. Yet He came to liberate us from the clutches of Satan that we may be set free from the enslavement of sin and light to guide us in a direction. All have been provided the opportunity to live differently and have a different walk because we live on the other side of the Cross. He came to save His people. All of His people now can be saved from the power of sin and shame.

Meditation: December 23

“For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37

Jesus gave us a clear picture of the Nativity. There is a purpose for every birth. But His birth was not like any other. He knew why He was born and why and when He was to die. Many live and die never knowing why they were permitted to occupy a particular space in a particular period of time. The Nativity has to do with the place, conditions, and the circumstances of the birth of Jesus. “For this cause…” A cause that would affect the whole of humanity would come to light as the result of a child that was born. He was the gift given to us by God to save the world from the consequences of sin which was resident within all. His life was the resounding amen to the Truth of God. Christmas is about mankind coming into agreement with God. As Jesus bore witness to the truth, we are to be made witnesses of Jesus Christ. The world will know the reality of Christ through those us who hear and believe on the One who was born to live for us and to die for us. 

Meditation: December 22

“But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.” Ephesians 5:13

The order of creation was established in the light. God created light and divided it from darkness before any other thing was made. It was the light that sustained all and made manifest all other things. It was in the light that Adam was able to identify and classify by naming what was before him. He was a co-laborer with God because he could distinguish the difference between one thing and another. God raises children with discernment. We were made to see all things from His perspective and not from another. The light of His Word exposes what has been hidden so that none is left to blindly wander about in life. What is released through those who carry God’s Word will destroy the works of darkness done by Satan. Walk in the light and do not entertain or fellowship with the works of darkness.

Meditation: December 21

“He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs”. Psalm 103:10 (MSG)

If we received what we deserved, every inhabitant on the earth’s surface would warrant the consequences of their transgressions. Our treatment would be harsh while the sentence would be measured against the deserving. None would be able to survive the plight of heavy-handed justice from a God who would remain just in meeting all with the same treatment commensurate to their treatment of God’s Law. God does not give us what we deserve even when it is deserved many times over as result of repeated acts of rebellion. Instead of justice, He tempers justice with mercy. His sentiments remain the same in relation to our deeds. But continues to extend opportunities for us to hear something different than what we may have grown accustomed to hearing in order to give expression to a new way of living. His mercy cannot be demanded. It is arbitrarily granted. He will have mercy on whomever He wills. Yet we all receive it extended towards us. He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. The time will come when all will be both compensated and rewarded. They will either receive the wages of sin, death, or the gift of God, eternal life. He has given us a Savior that we did not deserve. Jesus is the gift of life that has paid the wages for our sins. Only He is able to free us from what every person deserves.