For the New Year (Belated)

We are two months into 2021! With a strong faith in God, we can be triumphant through the year. This may be our last year on earth. We should pray that God will help us to see more clearly the value of the soul. Since food, clothing and shelter are necessities of life, it is easy for these to become our primary concern. Family responsibilities are demanding. Jesus gave a parable that depicts man’s misplaced priorities in Luke 14. The essence of the story is no time for God. The excuse of one was, “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it.” Another said ,”I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them.” And another said” I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come.” All of these excuses reflect misplaced values.

For the New Year we need to stop some things and replace them with something more important—something spiritual with heavenly value, not simply fading earth value. We ought to pray that God will help us get our values right this New Year.

Pray that God will help us be sincere in our service this New Year. How much of our religion is simply a form, done out of tradition and habit? Some are lost in the pew because they are no longer truly sincere. They have lost a hunger for righteousness, a desire for the word, and great ambition for growth and accomplishment in the Lord’s kingdom. The person who refuses opportunities to know, grow, and go with the gospel must repent and pray for God to forgive him.

Which disturbs you the most? A soul lost in hell or a scratch on that new car? Missing the worship service or a day’s work? Your Bible being unopened or your newspaper unread? A sermon ten minutes too long or a lunch a half hour late? Miss a good Bible class or your favorite TV program? Contributions decreasing or your income decreasing? Your children absent from Bible classes or absent from school? The church not growing or the garden not growing? Church work neglected or housework neglected? Low attendance at worship or low attendance at a party? Missing the Lord’s Supper or missing a birthday dinner?

For the New Year we should resolve to better ourselves. Resolve we will better ourselves through Bible study. Resolve to do more right thinking. “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Prov.23:7) Resolve to do more for others! Since I want him to deal mercifully with me, I shall strive to be more merciful.

There is not one thing of this world that you can keep and take with you! If you could, it would all be burned up the first night after you got there! It may be Christ will return before or during 2017! So I will try helping others as I recall Paul’s words:” As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Encourage the weak, lift the fallen, exhort the faithful, and be an example to all believers; all the while striving to reach the lost with the gospel.

Live every day as if it were your last. Do every job as if you were the boss. Drive as if all other vehicles were police cars. Treat everyone else in 2021 as if they were you!