For the past several years, Gregor and I have looked forward to the New Year’s Eve WORDathon as it offered us a chance to join in the reading of or hearing of large sections of scripture in a short period of time. The lavish portions of WORD would fill our hearts and heads as we processed a year gone by and pondered the prospect of a brand new year to come.
Genesis starts with “In the beginning:” The LORD said and it was so.
And again, the Lord said and it was so…Time after time the principle is set in place; His WORD and then His FAITHFULNESS to bring it to fruition. Then let me feast on that Word! What have You said Lord? I want to know so I may be ready with praise when I see it come to pass. Indeed You speak and it is so.
This season we had an opportunity to reflect on foreshadowing and fulfillment.
We started in Genesis and read our way through Malachi, seeing over and over again in the Old Testament God’s promises to Israel and the nations; including the promise of ONE who would come as Messiah. The very Word of God made flesh. Turning to the New Testament we come to know Him by name- Jesus. We come to know Him by title- Savior.
We saw in Him One who fulfilled all that Old Testament scripture had said would be true of The Messiah:
- He would be born in Bethlehem.
- He would be a descendant of David.
- He would have authority over the waters.
- He would speak in parables.
- He will be a prophet like Moses- raised from among the people.
- The scepter would not depart from Judah and He would be lion of that tribe.
- He was born The King of the Jews.
- He is a light to the Gentiles.
- He brings salvation to the ends of the earth.
Then the Messiah, Jesus, tells us in the New Testament:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
That is the Gospel. That is good news!
Oh Lord, You are the Alpha and Omega. You are the first and the last word. You have been sending forth Your word from the very creation of this planet. It will not return void. You will be faithful to fulfill Your word and Your purposes this year, 2014, as You have been every year before. My prayer is that it might be spoken of me as it was of a man long ago, in John 4:50:
Of that man it was said “He took Jesus at His word.”
– Amen
Jennifer Smee