John 7: 27 But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.”

John 7: 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee?

John 7: 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes[i] from Galilee!”

I sit in the in-between, a place of transition from the old to the new. God has proclaimed the new but I just realized that like the Israelites I might have strongholds contending against the new. 

Even though the Israelites were expecting a messiah, they could not recognize or receive Him because of certain strongholds identified in the verses above. Could he be the Messiah? , we expect that the Messiah would just appear, we should not be able to tell where He’s from. And because God sent the Messiah in a way they did not expect they could not receive Him. Can you receive from God if He showed up in a way you did not expect? 

Will the Messiah come from Galilee? no prophet ever comes from Galilee!” And because they believed no prophet comes from Galilee, they could not receive Jesus. 

Permitting the new season God is birthing or a New thing He’s doing is never easy. It requires disloyalty to past experiences and certain thought patterns. It requires letting go of expectations and traditions. Birthing the new requires a deeper level of trust, and rest in uncertainty.  

As I pondered on these verses I realized, not only do I need to set my eyes on Jesus and follow closely as He leads me, but I also need to let go of my preset expectations, be flexible and give God permission to birth the new however He chooses. 

The new means something you’ve never seen before. The new means in a way you didn’t think or imagine. Can you give God permission to birth the new or would you hinder it because it does not fit into your current theology?

It is my prayer that God would grant us grace to renew our minds, break strongholds and grant Him permission to birth the new in our lives. 

Love Always

Obebi

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