This week we are going to celebrate the start of the New Year. This is not a Christian holiday, but it is a holiday that starts a new season in our lives. Many will set goals as we go into the New Year. During this time so many of us are thinking over the last year of our lives and looking forward to the coming year. During this time as we are looking back, it is so easy to focus on all the things that we did wrong or that needs improvement. Instead of looking at what needs improvement in our lives, we should look at what God has done this year and all we have accomplished. As I have said before, looking back and seeing what God has done fills you with joy, but looking back at our sins and mistakes causes guilt and pain. I think that one New Year’s resolution we all should make is to strive to spend more time with Jesus by reading His Word, praying, and attending a local church (www.churchfinder.com). That should be everyone’s goal going into the New Year to spend more time growing our relationship with God more than we did last year. Another resolution Christians should have going into the New Year is to share the gospel with more people than you did last year, so that they can have a relationship with God just as we do.
In Exodus 40:2, God tells the Israelites that on the first day of the first month to set up the tabernacle. I think this is still important today, because the tabernacle was before the temple and now each and every Christian is the temple and the place where God dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16). So, I think we should take this time to prepare our temples for worshiping and serving as we enter the New Year. Remembering to set our hearts and minds on Jesus in this New Year that God has given us.
As you go into this new season of your life, if you are looking for a new start, know that the ultimate restart comes when you accept Jesus into your heart. The Bible tells us that when you accept Jesus that you are not only cleaned white as snow, but you are a new creation, that the old is gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). The reason we need a Savior is that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). The good news is that Jesus came, died for us taking the penalty for our sins. Then He rose on the third day, proving that not even death has power over our God. Anyone who accepts Him will have eternal life with Him. If you would like to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, all you have to do is to admit that you are a sinner, repent of your sins, believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, God raised Him from the dead, and confess Him as Lord and Savior of your life (Romans 10:9).So today and this week as we start the New Year have a goal of growing in your relationship with God and reaching others for Him. Also, this week if you do not know Jesus, there is no better time to become a new creation in Christ by accepting Him as your Lord and Savior. As Weekly Biblical Encouragement starts this New Year we are going to continue to encourage people to grow or start their relationship with God. We will also be resuming our study of John next week. If you would like to help us reach others during 2022, you can by following and sharing our account. I thank God for all the people we have been able to reach this year and I am believing and praying for even more in the coming year. As we end this year I want to encourage you to have a daily devotional here are some great ones I recommend through the Bible in 365 days, 21 days in the book of John, or reading Psalms and Proverbs in 31 days.