New Year New Resolutions

Do not call to mind former things,

Or ponder things of the past.

Behold I will do something new,

Now it will spring forth;

Will you not be aware of it?

I will make a roadway in the wilderness,

Rivers in the desert.

Psalm 43:18-19

Traditionally, celebrating the New Year brings with it New Year’s resolutions.   There is nothing wrong with this; in fact resolutions can spur us on to do things which we should be doing, as well as, to stop doing things which do not serve to improve our lives. 

So, as we ring in the New Year, let us remember that God is on our side and that He will be doing new things, too.

And, those things will be wonderful.

Welcome Being Welcomed

He who receives you receives Me, and He who receives Me receives Him who sent me.

Matthew 10:40

Jesus makes it clear that God goes with us when we set out to preach the Gospel.  I use the word preach to encompass all manner of sharing the love of Jesus and the message of salvation with everyone. 

We should not shy away from accepting invitations from those who are not Christians and even those who openly proclaim their unbelief, because we can’t bring them to Jesus if we don’t talk to them.  And, if the invitation appears to be for some type of event which we find objectionable, we can counter with, “Well, I can’t make it, but how about if we have coffee on Tuesday?  I’ll buy.” 

When we are welcomed by unbelievers, we have an opportunity to share the love of God. 

Not A Cruise

When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta.  The natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold; they kindled a fire and received us all.  But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.

When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.”

But they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead.  But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

Acts 28:1-6

The Apostle Paul wanted to go Rome to preach the Gospel.  He did not plan to go as a prisoner.  Nor did he anticipate that he would be shipwrecked, rescued, bitten by a snake, accused of being a murder and then called a god.  However, Paul took what we would consider to be a horrible trip and turned it into a mission trip. 

So, when we are trying to do something for God and things are not going the way we planned, we need to consider that perhaps things are going according to God’s plan and go with the flow.  And, we might be surprised how well things work out.

God's Road Map

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Why do we read the Bible? 

We read the Bible because it is God’s Word to us and by reading it we better understand how we are to live our lives. 

There are people who say that they do not like what the Bible has to say about some things.  Well, we do not have to agree but we need to consider that the Bible is a road map for how we are to live our lives. 

When we examine our intentions and our actions and consider what the Bible instructs us to do, we become better people. 

Use God’s road map for your journey and see what happens.

Strong In The Lord

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And taking up the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:10-17

Amen.