A new year has dawned in this Christmas season. Yes, it is still Christmas season. Have you moved on already? This week’s scriptures are all about praising, singing and remembering to praise God the Father for the gift of His Son. It feels like the burdens of this world are relentless, constant pressure to place our focus off of Christ. Don’t do it, continue in your persistence to know the Son. The rewards are greater than anything of this earth. There will always be something tugging at you, that is the way of this world. But Christ is always here too. The battle is real. Stand firmly rooted in your faith. Allow your vision to be clearer on Christ. When and while this is happening, the Holy Spirit gathers strength in you. You grow, you become what God needs you to be. Happy New Year.
Jeremiah 31:7-14 7)For thus says the LORD, “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise and say, ‘O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ 8)”Behold, I am bringing them from the north country, and I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; A great company, they will return here. 9)”With weeping they will come, and by supplications I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, on a straight path in which they will not stumble; For I am the father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.” 10)Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare in the coastlands afar off, and say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.” 11)For the LORD has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he. 12)”They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, and they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD–over the grain and the new wine and the oil, and over the young flock and the herd; and their life will be like a watered garden, and they will never languish again. 13)”Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, and the young men and old, together, for I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow. 14)”I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” declares the LORD. Here I see that the same God that scattered His people, He is calling them back to fulfill the promises and covenant that He made with them. It is reassuring to know all the details isn’t it? So glad to know what is in His word and to know that He is a constant.
Psalms 147:12-20 12)Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise you God, O Zion! 13)For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your sons within you. 14)He makes peace in your borders; He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat. 15)He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. 16)He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes. 17)He casts forth His ice as fragments; Who can stand before His cold? 18)He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and waters to flow. 19)He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel. 20)He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His ordinances, they have not known them, Praise the LORD! God is in control, this Psalm speaks of the weather and His strength, be grounded in His word.
Wisdom of Solomon Chapter 10 verses 15-21 15 Wisdom rescued a holy people and a pure generation from the grip of people who were crushing them. 16 She entered the soul of a man who served the Lord. She enabled him to oppose terrifying kings by means of signs and wonders. 17 She rewarded the holy ones for their labors and led them along a wonderful route. She became a shelter for them by day and a flaming shower of stars by night. 18 She carried them across the Red Sea[a] and led them through deep waters. 19 She drowned their enemies and caused the depths to boil up over them. 20 The people who did what was right then stripped the ungodly of their weapons. All together they sang hymns to your holy name, Lord. They praised your hand, which had defended and fought for them. 21 Wisdom opens the mouths of those who can’t speak and puts clear words on the tongues of infants. This seems a little familiar doesn’t it? What is this wisdom, perhaps the Holy Spirit. Give to God what is due to Him, all glory, honor and praise.
John 1:10-18 10)He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11)He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12)But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13)who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14)And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15)John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He of who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16)For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17)For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18)No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. Grace and truth such perfect ways to describe Jesus. Truth and grace, blessing for us to receive, behavior for us to follow.
Praise and worship, grace and truth an excellent way to begin 2025.
Through Christ, Seek God,
D.J. Schoneweis