A new year has begun. A new chapter in our book of life is waiting to be written. It is a new beginning and chance to live with new resolve, aspirations, and behaviors. Some say the year ahead provides exciting anticipation, while others view it as dismal and threatening. What do you see as you peer into your future? What do you dare to imagine happening in your world of experiences? What and who will anchor your faith, trust, and decision-making?
There have been times in my life when I was breathless with wonder and awe. It has happened when someone gave me a gift I never expected. At other times it happened when seeing something incredible, such as a “breathtaking view” of God’s creation.
I remember the day when I, with eager anticipation, walked from the parking lot to the edge of the Grand Canyon. When I got there and looked down into that expansive space I was awestruck and speechless. I was not prepared for the overwhelming emotions that filled and silenced me. All the pictures that I had seen beforehand did not fully prepare me for the awesome breath-taking view.
There are also times when I feel that way spiritually. Consider with me John’s opening introduction of Jesus to us in his Gospel account. As you slowly read the first two verses and verse fourteen of chapter 1, I invite you to open your spiritual eyes and imagine the awesome grandeur and beauty of this reality.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made.” … “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (NIV).
And now slowly read verse sixteen for the awesome view of our relationship with this Word (Jesus). “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.” Or, as the New Living Translation says it, “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” Wow! What breath-taking, soul-stirring beauty. It is utterly amazing grace.
The story is told of a poor, elderly lady who sometimes visited a church in her town. The elders of the church were always embarrassed when she did because she often would get excited in the service and shout “Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!” And that was more than the dignified members of this traditional congregation could endure.
One Sunday morning the church elders greeted her at the door and made an agreement with her. They promised her a new, heavy blanket for the cold, winter months if she would not shout during the service. She agreed and took a seat near the front of the sanctuary.
She held her silence at first, but as the pastor got into his message, he got more wound up, really preaching from the heart, and his words about the grace of God in Jesus gripped that elderly woman’s heart and soul, until she almost exploded with excitement. Finally, she stood up and shouted, “Blanket or no blanket, Hallelujah, Amen!”
Maybe the year 2022 has that kind of awesome spiritual surprise awaiting you. Are you eager for such an experience? If not, why not? Imagine what would happen in your church and community if you got so excited about Jesus that you could not restrain yourself from telling the next person you meet just how much Jesus Christ means to you?
That is what happened to Andrew. He listened to what John the Baptist had to say about Jesus and then he listened to what Jesus had to say, and he got so excited that he went and found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!”
Are you seeing Jesus and the glory of God’s amazing grace ? Are you receiving one gracious blessing after another? Then, “Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born! Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.”
Are you eager to see Jesus in 2022 and be awestruck with his amazing grace and glory? I pray it will be so for both you and me.
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 5, 2022
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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