| Blessed New Year in Christ Jesus, 2009 |
James 4:13-15 Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into
such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life?
It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Many people desire to know what the future holds. They look to the stars
for signs. They study "current trends" in economics. They look to
predictions made by the "experts." It is a natural desire to find out what the
future holds. The Bible records the future of Israel, the Church, and the
unbelieving world. God, knowing the future, recorded it for us to know;
and as we study the Word of God, we find that His Word is always current
with the times in which we live.
And as we continue to study the Bible, we find instruction for every day
life. Christians must occupy till the Lord Jesus comes. We are not to worry
about tomorrow, yet there are storm clouds over the horizon. We see
them. Many things throughout the world are taking place that will affect
our future. How shall we then live? As God’s Word instructs us to—
not to waiver in our Faith but rather looking unto Jesus, the Author and
Finisher of our Faith and running the Christian race that is set before us.
Every year that goes by should give us confidence that Jesus Christ's
coming is nearer than when we first believed. And what shall we then
focus on? Fulfilling the work that He has called us and enables us to do.
The New Year may bring a natural disaster to your town, yet God is
faithful to be your protection. The New Year may bring you prosperity,
yet we are told not to set our heart upon riches. This coming year may
bring a new baby or grandchild into your family-- God's blessing upon you.
You may be getting married in the coming year. Whatever the New Year
brings, keep the Lord Jesus at the center-- keep Him first. He gives
strength to the weary; He is Hope for the hopeless and He knows the end
from the beginning. As the Apostle Paul declared in Philippians 4:11, "I
have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
Romans 8:35, 37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us.
The most important thing for the New Year is to keep ourselves from idols;
to love the Lord our God; Be rich toward God; Love one another; Walk in
truth. May we always love God first and seek His face...and the rest will
follow.
Happy and Blessed New Year from Cobblestone Road Ministries!
©2008 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved
----------------------------------------------------
Further Reading:
Running The Christian Race
Blessed New Year To You! (Last year's message)
"HELP, LORD" - The Prayer of Every Christian
Do You Have Time For The Lord?
such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life?
It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Many people desire to know what the future holds. They look to the stars
for signs. They study "current trends" in economics. They look to
predictions made by the "experts." It is a natural desire to find out what the
future holds. The Bible records the future of Israel, the Church, and the
unbelieving world. God, knowing the future, recorded it for us to know;
and as we study the Word of God, we find that His Word is always current
with the times in which we live.
And as we continue to study the Bible, we find instruction for every day
life. Christians must occupy till the Lord Jesus comes. We are not to worry
about tomorrow, yet there are storm clouds over the horizon. We see
them. Many things throughout the world are taking place that will affect
our future. How shall we then live? As God’s Word instructs us to—
not to waiver in our Faith but rather looking unto Jesus, the Author and
Finisher of our Faith and running the Christian race that is set before us.
Every year that goes by should give us confidence that Jesus Christ's
coming is nearer than when we first believed. And what shall we then
focus on? Fulfilling the work that He has called us and enables us to do.
The New Year may bring a natural disaster to your town, yet God is
faithful to be your protection. The New Year may bring you prosperity,
yet we are told not to set our heart upon riches. This coming year may
bring a new baby or grandchild into your family-- God's blessing upon you.
You may be getting married in the coming year. Whatever the New Year
brings, keep the Lord Jesus at the center-- keep Him first. He gives
strength to the weary; He is Hope for the hopeless and He knows the end
from the beginning. As the Apostle Paul declared in Philippians 4:11, "I
have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
Romans 8:35, 37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us.
The most important thing for the New Year is to keep ourselves from idols;
to love the Lord our God; Be rich toward God; Love one another; Walk in
truth. May we always love God first and seek His face...and the rest will
follow.
Happy and Blessed New Year from Cobblestone Road Ministries!
©2008 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved
----------------------------------------------------
Further Reading:
Running The Christian Race
Blessed New Year To You! (Last year's message)
"HELP, LORD" - The Prayer of Every Christian
Do You Have Time For The Lord?
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