Thursday, January 2, 2025

           Happy New Year!  The odds are good that you have been wished this three-word sentiment a few times in the last week.  And there may be a few more commendations to come before we all get settled into 2025.  A new year is a new beginning.  And new beginnings bring hope, excitement and anticipation.  As you may know, the Bible opens with the words “in the beginning.”  And Genesis goes on to tell us that God created the heavens and the earth.  The creation has a beginning—that moment in time where God decided to create. 
            Mark’s gospel opens with the phrase “the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ.”  Gospel means “good news.”  And the gospel begins with Jesus because it is about Jesus.  God graciously offers us a new start and a new life in Jesus.  We need this new start and life because we have sinned and rebelled against God.  In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, God promises to make all things new—including a new heaven and a new earth. Just as a trip to the theater brings previews and opening credits, you might already have some sense of where God is at work in your life and what He is seeking to do through you.               As you begin a new year, you can see this as God’s gift to you.  You can leave behind the old ways and scars that have dogged you.  You can leave behind old sins and old ways of thinking to embrace the new moments and new hopes that God can bring to you.  Maybe you will choose to read His Word more diligently and devotedly.  Maybe you will choose to elevate your prayer time.  Maybe you would like to become more of a giver—by sharing more of your time, talents, money and blessings more generously.  Perhaps you would like to remember what you already know to be true about God.  Namely, that He is trustworthy, good, providing, sufficient, faithful and ever-working in your life.  Busyness and circumstances can often blind us to what we already know to be true about God.
            Psalm 124:8 reminds us that “our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”  These words were true in David’s day and they remain true in our day.  There are times where we have to remind ourselves that the Lord is our help—not just the giver of help but actually our help.  As a reminder, Psalm 121:1 asks the question, “where does my help come from?”  And verse 2 of that same Psalm supplies us with the answer, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” 
            As you begin this new year, think of the ways that you will dedicate your time and life to the Lord.  Ask for His help.  Continue to ask for His help throughout the year.  Make the most of the new beginning that the Lord offers to you.  Psalm 116:5 says, “The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.”  May His grace and compassion rest upon you as you draw near to Him.  God is the greatest writer of all time.  He has entrusted us with His written word that we call the Bible.  He has written the terms of our salvation in the blood of His Son.  He has written of His glory in the heavens as they moment-by-moment declare His handiwork and majesty.  And today, we can trust God to write the best story for our lives.  Lean into and learn from the story He is writing for you!  Happy New year!