You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:11-12
The long-awaited Messiah had come to earth. The nation of Israel had expectantly waited for so long yet when he arrived, they had difficulty receiving him. The people clung to old traditions and old ways instead of being open to the new covenant. Jesus came to fulfill the law not abolish it. He said the Kingdom of God had come, yet they weren’t willing to accept it.
Jesus didn’t come as an “add-on” to people’s lives, or a patch for a torn life. He came to bring us into a radically new life. He forgave our sins so we can be completely new creations. When we die to our old sinful self, we have fellowship with God. The new wine of the Holy Spirit can’t live in an old, dead container. Our new life in Christ needs us to recognize God at work and grow with Him instead of becoming stubborn and inflexible because we won’t yield to his Lordship.
We don’t want to miss God at work in our lives. So, we must remain expectant, open and willing to receive. Are you having difficulty receiving the new life of Christ? Is there an expectation or desire that needs to die so you can enter into what God has for you? Talk to Jesus about how you feel. Ask him to show you what he has for you. Accept his gifts. He bestows on us a robe of righteousness and causes life to spring from within. His Kingdom is here, he is present now, you can joyfully celebrate life in Him. Meditate on the prophecy about Jesus himself and what he will do for you in Isaiah 61, and join the Psalmist in praise.
By Donna Burns
