When I opened my Facebook page to post the daily devotion the other day, a memory from about five years ago appeared on my page. Sometimes these memories are pictures of fun times, birthdays, or just something silly I might have posted on my personal page. This recent one reminded me of something far different. It read:
“Sunday we sang the song, “Take Me Into the Holy of Holies.” I awoke this morning with the opening phrase flowing through me, ‘Take me past the outer courts ….’ I realized that I’ve been spending the last week or so in the outer courts and I need to move. As the song says, I need to move past even the gates of praise, and past the brazen altar to the place where I see His face. I am determined to keep Christmas simple this year – simply focusing on Him … but it is so hard sometimes. The world has a grip on the holiday season and it often is louder and stronger than my own determination!”
I was amazed as I read that memory at how much HAS NOT changed this season from that one five years ago. The world still has a grip on the holiday season, and it is still louder and stronger at times than my determination to focus solely on my LORD and Savior. Add in COVID, social distancing, isolation, and masks and this season is screaming for attention.
As I read that, however, I realized that my desire is still there to go past the outer courts—the superficial acknowledgement of Jesus’ birth, and into the Holy of Holies where I can dwell in His presence. I want to experience all that God has for me this season.
Amid the virus-and-fear pandemic, our LORD’s birth is the beacon of hope to a world that can find hope nowhere else.
“Joy to the World” is still true no matter how big a mess the world is!
(770) Chris Tomlin - Joy to the World (unspeakable Joy) - Lyrics - YouTube