The Walk As wonderful as Christmas is, it does pass, and then what? There are months of special displays in the stores, plans for family time, and making sure all the parties and events are sufficient in preparation for this one day. Then it passes, though, often with no snow and in the eighties if you’re in Texas, and what was built up can become a big letdown when it is through. This is why this time of the year can result in depression and despair right when all the buildup is for joy and peace. Actually living out the reality of this purpose becomes something that may be passed over rather than walked. For the parents of this promised one, whom they had named “Jesus” per the directions of the angel that had appeared to them both, there wasn’t any of the supporting circumstances that you would assume would accompany a true king. Rather than being swept into prominence in the social circles, they had to flee for their lives and then watch this “Son of God” simply work as a carpenter. It was surely a glorious night with many confirmations of His legitimacy, but those precious validations must have been fuel for a walk that surely could have been overwhelming in discouragement while actually being one of the most significant ever. Where there are experiences in the presence of the Almighty God, there is an opportunity for them to be much more than just events. When they are kept and pondered in the heart as they were for Mary, they become the energy and hope for a walk that fulfills a much greater purpose than that single event could ever have. As precious as the birth was, the purpose fulfilled at the end of Jesus’ walk required a forward fixation that this event only prompted when considered. With each encounter is a choice for it to either just get relegated to an event that is depressingly over, or a reason to press on towards its greater purpose. Joy/Peace/Salvation – what a reason to walk on, the day after the birth. When the experience is truly Him, the event will result in a driven walk from a transforming event. Notes After the research, financing, long road – simple manger and evasive return. Matthew 2:11-13 (NLT) 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. 13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” Mary’s secret to the walk of purpose – heart keeping and frequent thought Luke 2:17-20 (NLT) 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. Israel’s key – followed by few Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (NIV) 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. After the most amazing conversion – was about heart-kept revelation, not a resume event Philippians 3:8-12 (NLT) 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. From a powerful encounter – motivation to walk its purpose Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Overview: Events of significance can either be reason for discouragement and depression with their passing or forward motivation towards their greater purpose. The key to taking the walk of purpose is keeping the experiences and events in the heart to be often considered when steps become challenging. Elevating the revelation of Jesus from encounters with His power enables a walk of eternal purpose. Prayer: “It is most amazing that You have enabled me to experience the wonder of Your presence through the gift of Jesus. Help each encounter with Your demonstrated power be a treasured revelation of Christ that propels me towards a fulfilled walk of purpose.” Declarations: I have experienced the same Jesus whose birth originated the greatest celebration of giving when I accepted Him as my personal Savior, forgiven and set free. I keep this initial encounter and every one to follow as treasures in my heart that bring strength and hope to press on in a walk of purpose. With Jesus as the valued revelation, each experience of His power only produces a passion to know Him more. My every step if filled with purpose beyond the experience that brought me there, as knowing Jesus is ever more my destination.