Let’s Start With the Word

Leviticus 26:10 (NKJV)

“You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new.”

Isaiah 54:13 (NKJV)

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.”

Ephesians 4:13 (NKJV)

“Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”

Let’s Take a Moment to Think About This

Sometimes a single word opens a door into a much larger room.

Leviticus 26:10 is one of those verses.

At first glance, it sounds like a promise about food storage. God tells His people that they will still be eating from the old harvest when the new harvest arrives. The old will remain available until the new comes in.

But as I sat with the verse, one word seemed to quietly rise above all the others:

until.

The old harvest was never meant to stay forever.

It had a purpose.

It sustained God’s people.

It carried them through a season.

But it was always pointing toward something that was still coming.

That little word, until, reminded me how often God works through process.

A seed is planted before a tree appears.

Roots grow before fruit is visible.

Children learn before they teach.

Disciples follow before they lead.

Growth rarely happens all at once.

That realization brought an unexpected sense of mercy.

How often do we look at ourselves or others and become discouraged because we still see evidence of the old? Old habits. Old thinking. Old fears. Old struggles. We notice what has not changed yet and forget that God often works through seasons of transition.

The old remains…

until.

Not because God has abandoned the work.

Not because growth has stopped.

Not because the promise has failed.

But because He is bringing something new forth.

Perhaps that is why Isaiah tells us that God’s children will be taught by the Lord. The Father is not merely interested in changing behavior. He is committed to raising sons and daughters who know Him, walk with Him, and learn from Him. Teaching takes time. Growth takes time. Maturity takes time.

Even the ministries given to equip the Body of Christ were never intended to keep believers dependent forever. They were given to help us grow into maturity. The goal has always been that we would continue learning, growing, and being formed into the image of Christ.

When I remember that, it changes how I view people.

Instead of only seeing the old harvest, I begin looking for what God may be growing beneath the surface.

Instead of frustration, there is patience.

Instead of condemnation, there is hope.

Instead of judgment, there is mercy.

Because sometimes the most important thing to remember is that God is not finished yet.

The old remains…

until the new comes in.

Consider This

• Is there an area of your life where God may still be working through a process of growth and transformation?
• Have you been focusing more on what is still old than on what God may be bringing forth?
• How might remembering the word until change the way you view yourself or someone else today?

Before You Go, Hold Onto This Thought

If you find yourself in a season where the new has not fully appeared yet, do not lose heart.

The presence of the old does not mean the promise has failed.

The presence of the old does not mean God has stopped working.

Sometimes it simply means you are standing in the space called until.

The same God who planted the seed is faithfully tending the growth. He sees what is happening beneath the surface long before anyone else does. What feels unfinished today may already be moving toward fruitfulness in ways you cannot yet see.

Give yourself grace.

Extend mercy to others.

Trust the Teacher who is patiently guiding His children from one season to the next.

And as you continue your journey, remember that every step of growth matters.

We would love for you to return again for deeper reflection, continued study, and fresh encouragement from God’s Word. There is always more to discover when we walk with Him.

Key Scriptures for Meditation

• Hebrews 5:12-14
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Colossians 2:6-7
• Philippians 1:6
• John 16:13