Happy New Year!
“This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.” – Exodus 12:2
No, it’s not January 1, 2021, yet. However, if you are familiar with the Jewish Calendar, you will know that this past weekend, the Jewish community celebrated one its three High Holy Days –– Rosh Hashanah –– The Jewish New Year.
Rosh Hashanah is a time that commemorates the Passover and Israel’s exodus from Egypt. This exit symbolized the mark of a new beginning and a fresh start for God’s people.
Oh, how we could use a fresh start! 2020 has not been the best of years, but I do believe that it has been a significant year.
Oftentimes, in scripture, God would allow certain situations to occur, only to display His sovereignty. Take for example the lives of Joseph, Job, and Paul. Each one of these men experienced times of testing. And yet, neither one of them allowed their trials to dissociate them from God. As a matter of fact, just the opposite occurred. The distance between them and the Almighty lessened and drew each of them into a deeper place. For instance, Joseph rose in power from slavery to the ruler of Egypt. Job endured his test and God blessed him with his latter days being greater than the first. And then, Paul was transformed by God from a persecutor of Christians to an advocate for Christ.
This pandemic has had, somewhat, the same effect. It has tested, tried, and caused many tribulations. It has drawn many of us to places of deep intercession and solemn humility, and into a place of hidden intimacy. This pandemic has stretched us beyond ourselves and has initiated a dependency upon God like never before. But I’m reminded of Paul’s words in Colossians 1:27, “To them, God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (NIV)
The Passion Translation reads like this, “Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!”
Breaking News: God wants the world to know that The Ecclesia –– the Church has crossed over into a New Year. Stay tuned to witness the glory that rests upon her. It’s unimaginable.
Just as God proclaimed to Israel, in Isaiah 43:19, He is declaring the same unto us. “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
In other words, God is saying, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?” (The Message Translation)
God can’t pour new wine into old wineskins. The old has to be done away with in order to secure a proper vessel for the new. During this time of quarantine, some old things have been stripped away. Things like old relationships, old mindsets, old habits, and old things. Things that we thought were essential. But God said no. It’s not in them –– never has been and never will be.
It is the Beginning of Beginnings. For with a New Season and a New Year comes a New Beginning. Embrace the new and do not covet the old. For, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare.”
And so, Shanah Tovah –– Have a good year!
Join me next week for Coffee on The Couch.