He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:3-4.

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13.

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 85: Stripped Him before the stares of men. Psalm 22:17-18: I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. And, Luke 23:34-35: But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”

I loved this from Hearing God by Dallas Willard: “Reflect: Consider how the true identity of Christ is unfolding in your life: logical and insightful teacher; redeemer of the world; powerful member of the community of the Trinity; co-creator and sustainer of the universe.” I keep thinking about how we see Jesus today. How those who lived when He lived with us saw Him. Every year we remember the child lying in the manger; Jesus at 12 years old teaching the religious leaders in the temple; His choosing the disciples; the teachings and healings Jesus gave; the crucifixion; the resurrection; and then we think of the early church. Highlights. What about us every day today living in a world choosing peril and conflict? All of Scripture shows us peril and conflict lived in civilizations past. We know those conflicts lived in civilizations from the history of our own countries to today. How is understanding Jesus the Christ unfolding in your life today? Are you letting your life lived oblivious to Him consume all your energy and thoughts? Are you finding a desire deep within to know Him yourself as He is now? When I read Scripture, I don’t just want to read words. I want to understand and know Him and His love guiding me. Because as I open my whole being to Him, I realize just how incredible is this life He has given us. That knowing Him is our journey together toward understanding I don’t want to miss one minute of in all the distractions this world is drowning in. In knowing His love I can pray sincerely for every leader of every country today. I can pray sincerely that we all of us come to know Him and experience this incredible life found in Him with us.

***DIVINE MAJESTY Holy Father, Majesty in heaven, the True Divinity who lives in light unapproachable, may the splendor of Your holiness and the wonder of Your perfection shine in our hearts, penetrate our spirits, and nourish our souls today. We long to be with You, to bask in the warmth of Your love, and to treasure the gift of Your grace. Our heart’s desire is to be in Your presence always and to live a life that is an unbroken, uninterrupted prayer. You know us like no other. You see our fears and our faults, our blind spots and our biases, our indiscretions and our imperfections, yet You set them against the impenetrable self-emptying love of Jesus, Your Beloved. He stood in the gap, granted us access to Your divine pardon, and ushered us into Your unshakeable kingdom. May Your Holy Spirit enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we may experience the joy of Your holy depths. May He search the hidden recesses of our innermost being and purify us from everything that offends against Your glory. Transform us from the inside out and clear the channels for the Spirit’s fruit to flow as streams of living water from the oasis of Your divine nature in us. May our lives draw others to You so that they, too, may delight in Your transcendent beauty and magnificence. For the rest of our lives, LORD, teach us to live courageously and faithfully, showing mercy and walking in humility, to Your honor and to Your glory. In the name of Jesus and through the power and fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we offer this meditation of our heart and devotion of our soul to You, the only God, with reverence, gratitude, and awe. Amen. Tyrone Marcus (Port of Spain, Trinidad), personal prayer, 2020.***