Today as we celebrate Christmas Eve, I am reminded of all this day represents. Up until Jesus was born, we suffered from a great divide. A place where only one day a year was a priest able to stand in the presence of the Lord, and he even risked his life to do so. His name was drawn from a lot and once he stood in that sweet, sweet presence, he never could again. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and there was no guarantee that his name would ever be drawn at all.
Now that is a great divide.
Fast forward to the birth of Jesus. This is when Christ began to walk the earth with us! What a day to celebrate!! I know that Holy Spirit wasn’t released for all of us until Christ ascended into heaven after having been crucified and raised from the dead, but Christ’s birth was the beginning of it all. It was the time when He made Himself a man, so He could truly empathize with us. There is no temptation we face that He has not experienced. He came so that not only could we know Him, but so He could know us better too. He came to be a bridge for us, a bridge of understanding. He is the only way to heaven.
What a mighty God we serve!
Today I ask you, are you taking advantage of the closing of the gap between us and God? Are you letting His presence draw you close? Do you trust Him enough to let yourself boldly go before His presence anytime you desire? Do you realize the access that you now have?
For many years I did not really understand the access I could have. Now that I see how much He delights in my drawing nearer to Him, and how He loves when I come boldly before Him, I can’t stop pressing in. His presence draws me all day, every day. The thing I long for the most is time spent with Him.
I hang on every word I hear Him speak. I marvel at every work I see Him do. I long for Him. I yearn to be nearer. To know Him better. To be a more willing conduit of His presence. To be free of the fear of man and embrace the boldness that someone who truly understands their value would have.
Today could be the day you allow God to break down the walls you have put up between Him and you. He died to give you this access. He died so the great divide would be closed. He laid His life down as a bridge between you and the ever-lasting presence of God.
Won’t you take advantage of this gift?
And she gave birth to her firstborn son. And she wrapped Him in swaddling-cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was not a place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23
365 Days in the Presence 