A New Year's message from Michael: For many of
us this statement is not hard to believe as we look back upon the tribulation
of the past year. The world teaches that the key to having pleasant
surprises in the new year is to begin with low expectations. When we operate in
our strengths, this reveals our weaknesses to others. When we're on a
team, the team sees our weaknesses. Sometimes the team will tell you that
you need a sabbatical. We often need to draw away from the world and back
into the presence of God. Renewal is required to repent - to turn around and to
begin with a clean slate with a new identity in Christ. A new year allows
us to forget that which lies behind and to stretch toward that which lies
ahead. Therefore I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus – Philippians 3:14.
A new year gives us a clean slate to walk in the newness of life. It's easy to take stock of the year in retrospect and to understand where we have fallen short as husbands or wives, fathers or mothers, grandfathers or grandmothers, workers, business people , and stewards of that with which God has entrusted us. However, the New Year gives us an opportunity to forsake the shortcomings that are behind in the old year. What is the priority in the new year? Paul, who had impeccable worldly credentials, said that all my degrees, all my worldly training, all my awards and accolades I count but garbage to serve Christ. In Philippians 3:8 he writes, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ..."
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, all things have become new." For the best days ahead of us, we need to start with the basics. We have to turn back to God and remind ourselves of basic truths. James 2 is about these fundamentals. He brought us into the world, each with a specific purpose. This is the essence of holy sanctification: to be set apart for God's specific purpose... His portion, His providence, His allotment for our lives. Faith without works is dead... For we are His masterpiece, His poem, His great work created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he hath before ordained that we should walk in it – Ephesians 2:10.
A new year gives us a clean slate to walk in the newness of life. It's easy to take stock of the year in retrospect and to understand where we have fallen short as husbands or wives, fathers or mothers, grandfathers or grandmothers, workers, business people , and stewards of that with which God has entrusted us. However, the New Year gives us an opportunity to forsake the shortcomings that are behind in the old year. What is the priority in the new year? Paul, who had impeccable worldly credentials, said that all my degrees, all my worldly training, all my awards and accolades I count but garbage to serve Christ. In Philippians 3:8 he writes, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ..."
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, all things have become new." For the best days ahead of us, we need to start with the basics. We have to turn back to God and remind ourselves of basic truths. James 2 is about these fundamentals. He brought us into the world, each with a specific purpose. This is the essence of holy sanctification: to be set apart for God's specific purpose... His portion, His providence, His allotment for our lives. Faith without works is dead... For we are His masterpiece, His poem, His great work created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he hath before ordained that we should walk in it – Ephesians 2:10.
We shall finish Michael's thought-provoking message tomorrow.
In Christ, Brian
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