Old and New

     I have heard people say the Old Testament is full of death and judgment. Do we need to read it? To study it? Or do we focus on the New. Focus on Jesus after the cross. There is freedom and grace because of what Jesus has done. But God has been there from the beginning. With a plan and a purpose. He never gave up on Israel. He still hasn’t.

     The prophecies of the Old Testament continue to come to pass. We understand that the promises of old have been fulfilled and continue to be fulfilled.They are important. The characters teach us and lead us to the future with Jesus. Just as the old lessons in our life push us to new understanding, to new wisdom, to more of our Lord, the full measure of the Bible needs to be taken into account. It all matters. It is alive. It never returns to us empty. Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. John 1:1

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so, that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes from My mouth. It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and adhere the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

Father,

Your Word, Jesus, has been there since the beginning. Don’t let us discard even one word from the Bible. Each chapter, every single Word is vital and will not return empty. Your purposes will flourish and deliver the promises of the Word that became flesh and lived among us. It is Jesus.

Amen