COME BE WITH JESUS

January 1 Jesus, the Fulfillment of God’s promises Luke 1:1-4 “Many people have written accounts...of what God has done in fulfillment of His promise” (1:2b NTL) At the very beginning of biblical history, God made a promise to restore fallen humanity - a Seed will come born of woman that will crush the spirit of deception and disobedience that had led our fore parents into rebellion and alienation from God (Genesis 3:15). An invitation goes out to join in a journey of discovery as God fulfills His promise in His Son Jesus, born of a woman through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20-23), and destined to be the light in a dark world (John 1:4-5) and the Savior of lost humanity (John 4:42) Pause, Ponder, Pray Dear Lord, please take me to Jesus that I may get to know Him, love Him and serve Him, as I embark on this journey for the coming Year. May I see Jesus in all His glory and splendor, fully man, fully God, humble yet majestic, human yet divine, gentle yet stern, meek yet powerful, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah that conquered as a Lamb! May Jesus become my best friend, my first Love and Supreme Treasure. December 31 Jesus ascends into Heaven Luke 24: 50-53 “Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting His hands to heaven, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up to heaven. So, they worshipped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God” (24: 50 - 53 NLT) Jesus in the presence of a small band of committed followers, ascended to the Father. What an indescribable feeling of joy must have filled the heart of the Son of God/ Son of Man as He returned to the Father having completed the task given to Him before the foundation of the earth. What glory would have surrounded that act of sacrificial love as the Father received His beloved Son along with a family of redeemed humans from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. In God’s eyes it is done! Pause, Ponder, Pray Reflect on this final meeting of the Resurrected Jesus and His band of loyal followers. What a bittersweet moment it must have been to see the God/Man they had come to love and depend on and lean on leave them. Feel the pain of parting, yet the joy of victory by their Lord Messiah who had conquered His enemies and had promised them that same power to “tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19). Think about your new position in Christ Jesus. With cries and praise and thanksgiving, give worship to God for your heavenly inheritance in Christ Jesus that no one can add to or take away from. It has been sealed with the Holy Spirit who now lives in you as a first instalment of glory and beauty and goodness yet to come, forever and ever Amen! Give a joyous shout. You will never be the same with Jesus!!!