Many express the perspective of a new year being an opportunity to “start afresh”, it’s common to hear “I hope it’ll be better than the last year!”, as if there’s some sort of “new year energy” which can open an opportunity for a transition to a new destiny commencing from the first second after midnight. The people of the faith of God through Christ have often osmotically accepted perspective of this “new season/beginning” philosophy, but this isn’t God’s doctrine, it’s men’s doctrine and the church shouldn’t be adopting it, we’ve been given the Words of life, we’ve been born again to a new hope and life through Jesus Christ, the old ways have passed away.

I find daily encouragement and hope in God’s words through Jeremiah: 

The steadfast love of the Lord NEVER ceases; 
his mercies NEVER come to an end; 
they are NEW EVERY MORNING; 
GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULLNESS.

Lamentations 3:22-23

We’re told to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Christ, not recommencing 1st of January then slowly (or quickly) forgetting to do so until the beginning of the next year. our lives in service to God are not seasonal; although our Godly responsibilities vary as we grow in Christ, our ministry/service is to be sustained throughout our lives in whatever form Holy Spirit gives us to be engaged. When Jesus saw the non productive Fig tree which had no figs because it wasn’t it’s season to produce fruit, regardless of it’s season He cursed it to die because it had no fruit when He came to it. we’re told by God in 2 Timothy:

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:2

I love the picture of God & the fruitful Church represented in Song of Solomon:

Awake, O north wind, and come, you south! Blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits.

Song of Solomon 4:16

The delivery of the gospel isn’t more important this year than any other, it’s been just as important a responsibility from the first day of it’s announcement to what it will be on the last day of its delivery. This’s where daily meditating on The Word in all seasons is every Christian’s responsibility, so that our language and actions are expressive of The Light of God, rather than being tainted by the sport, politics and void conversation of the world who believe they have no need of God and subsequently live “normal” lives, that often appear to the saints to be quite reasonable ways. But some of the minds of those without God are constantly working to fill or satisfy their hearts with anything but God, to distract from the “darkness” which is the reality of what they may not even understand as being the state of their current separation from God and their possible future end.
I was recently with a non-Christian couple who are quite reasonably financially comfortable, but their disposition and words conveyed dissatisfaction with relationships, possessions and life generally, even though they’re living a life that appears “normal” and comfortable. I pray that God will grant them repentance to salvation for His glory and their current and eternal peace.

I pray the words and actions of God’s children will be pleasing to heavenly Father, as we seek to learn more of Him to share, and as meditation on His Word brings us to be stronger in our faith, quieter in our spirit and alert to His voice each day, that we would be mature people of God in humility holding the truth in love first in our homes then everywhere our feet tread.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesian 4:13

APO18Jan2024