Separating the Old from the New

In the  beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1: 1,2

The beginning of a New Year, but first we have to say goodbye to the old. As the old year grew to a close, like many I reflected on the year just ending, and the last words of Jesus as He died, rolled around my mind, gently insisted that they should be heard,

“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Many years ago, I was present when on Elder,who was well advanced in years, said, simply, with great dignity to another, just as aged.

“Brother, I very much regret the way I spoke to you at the meeting. I was very wrong, please forgive me.”

The other brother beamed from ear to ear, and thrust out a hand. 

“That’s alright brother, I was out of order too. All that matters brother is that it is all under the blood, all under the blood” 

So, at the end of the year, all those things that have hurt, that have rankled, things done to me, things I have done to others, I let go of, trusting that “All is under the blood,” the precious blood shed on the Cross by the Saviour who died that all things should be made New.

I love the verse in Genesis that tells us that God separated the waters from the waters, creating the great expanse called heaven, gathering the waters together so that the dry land appeared. Seems to me as this New year begins that is what God is doing, gathering the waters of the old year so that His creation of the New Year with all its new friends,  new discoveries, new wonders may be revealed.

I carry forward with me into this New Year this word, 

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your  soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”

(Deuteronomy 6: 5,6)

That is my prayer, that I may be given grace to love as I am loved, as Jesus knew and loved the Father, that is what I seek in this New Year. 

May the Lord Grant the desires of your heart, Happy New Year! 

(All scriptures quoted from E.S.V.)