I would like to wish you all a
happy new year. May God bless your endeavors, your family and your
dreams, but above all may you grow closer to Him. And through
growing closer to Him, I believe that this is the year that each of
us must step in and do something for His Kingdom. The time to be
lukewarm has come and gone. We need to be on fire for Christ. It is
not optional anymore, it is a necessity. The world we live in have
become increasingly cold and hostile and at best nonchalant about
Christianity. Anything goes and everything has to be tolerated.
Things are to be accepted in the name of 'peace' and people are
trampled over in the name of economic and political advancement.
Listen to what the Word has to say about the time we live in:
"…in the last days there would be
scoffers whose purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil
way possible." Jude 1:18
"…in the last days there will be
scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they
desire." 2 Peter 3:3
"…in the last times some will turn
away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and
teachings that come from demons." 1 Timothy 4:1
"…in the last days there will be
very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and
their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God,
disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider
nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will
slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and
have no interest into what is good. They will betray their friends,
be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than
God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that
could make them godly." 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Does that all sound familiar? It
all rings true if you just read the newspapers and listen to the
news, no matter where you live in the world. But what really struck
me was the last sentence, "…they will act religious." So for 2014 I
want to challenge you to not 'act religious'. There are
too many 'religious' people walking around today. I want to
challenge you to be the true light that God created you to be.
Stand up for what you know is right, take a stand for the Kingdom
of God and above all, reach out to others and be different. Be the
difference this world so desperately needs.
I love the song 'Live with abandon'
from Newsboys. The song describes it perfectly. We need to live
with abandon, we shouldn't look back and make excuses, we should
look forward and give it our all. We should make the Kingdom of God
our primary concern and live for the benefit of the Kingdom. Jesus
came to give us a place in the Kingdom of God and we need to act as
citizens of His glorious Kingdom. We need to keep our heads held
high and we should reach out to those in need. If you live for the
benefit of the Kingdom, worldly matters will start to look
insignificant and you will be able to loosen yourself from the grip
of this world and all the glitz and glamour it offers.
Look up and spend time with God.
Fall in love with Jesus all over again and share His love with a
broken world, then you will find yourself starting to live for His
Name, totally sold out to Him. Then you will see, 2014 will be your
best year yet!
Father thank you for a new year.
Thank you for the blessings and for the opportunities that we know
are waiting for us. Help us to follow You no matter what and help
us to fulfill Your plan for our lives. You know best. We want to
live with abandon, please help us to do just that. In Jesus' Name.
Amen