But to live a purposeful, hopeful, meaningful life there is a deeper task. Resolve to be better by God's grace!
1) Put Him first- Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these (other) things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). This means when the choice comes- make the choice to please God. One obvious way to do this is in the way we attend worship.
2) Abide In Him- Seek not just to know about God- but to dwell/abide/stay in Him. John 15:7 says, "If you abide in me and my Word abides in you- ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you." Again, these were Jesus words recorded by John who heard them. How do you abide in Him?
A) Pray- Part of abiding is "Ask whatever you wish." Think about what you would like for God to do with you this year. Not just physically, but deep inside- with your relationships.
B) The Word- "and my Word abides in you" is part of abiding in Him. Knowing the content and the general meaning of scripture is important in order to abide in Him.
C) Bear fruit- he next verse (John 15:8) says "This is to my Father's glory that you bear much fruit showing yourselves to be my disciples." We bear fruit by having the fruit of the Spirit manifest in our lives (love, joy, peace ,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). But we also bear fruit as a fruit tree does by multiplying the faith we have in others.
D) Love- John 15:9- says, "As the father has loved me so I have loved you- now remain/abide/stay in my love. Abiding in God's love is the same as abiding in Him. He then says, "Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this- to lay down his life for his friends." So Jesus sacrificed for us. I am reminded of the Texas church shooting where Tony Wallace stood up to the shooter (who had received food from the church on other occasions) and took the shot of the shooter giving time for others to take cover and for the volunteer security to stop things. Tony sacrificed himself, said witnesses, so that others could go free.
At the beginning of the New Year we can easily get into self-improvement, but the best self-improvement may involve self-sacrifice for others. Love shows itself in such things.
2) Abide In Him- Seek not just to know about God- but to dwell/abide/stay in Him. John 15:7 says, "If you abide in me and my Word abides in you- ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you." Again, these were Jesus words recorded by John who heard them. How do you abide in Him?
A) Pray- Part of abiding is "Ask whatever you wish." Think about what you would like for God to do with you this year. Not just physically, but deep inside- with your relationships.
B) The Word- "and my Word abides in you" is part of abiding in Him. Knowing the content and the general meaning of scripture is important in order to abide in Him.
C) Bear fruit- he next verse (John 15:8) says "This is to my Father's glory that you bear much fruit showing yourselves to be my disciples." We bear fruit by having the fruit of the Spirit manifest in our lives (love, joy, peace ,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). But we also bear fruit as a fruit tree does by multiplying the faith we have in others.
D) Love- John 15:9- says, "As the father has loved me so I have loved you- now remain/abide/stay in my love. Abiding in God's love is the same as abiding in Him. He then says, "Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this- to lay down his life for his friends." So Jesus sacrificed for us. I am reminded of the Texas church shooting where Tony Wallace stood up to the shooter (who had received food from the church on other occasions) and took the shot of the shooter giving time for others to take cover and for the volunteer security to stop things. Tony sacrificed himself, said witnesses, so that others could go free.
At the beginning of the New Year we can easily get into self-improvement, but the best self-improvement may involve self-sacrifice for others. Love shows itself in such things.
I am reminded of the great verse (Luke 2:52) that says, "Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, in favor with God and others." This outlines how we might seek to grow- mentally, physically (exercise/diet), spiritually, and socially.
Get ready to have a great vision for 2020. Let God be your vision. Fix your eyes on Him, remain in Him, so that your joy may be complete!
Prayer: Lord, help me to seek you, find you, and remain in you in the coming year.
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