Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory

2 January

Scripture Reading

Read Hebrews 1:1-12 and reflect on the passage.

Happy New Year! Day 2 of the new year has come—have you started your New Years’ resolution? It seems that every year I make the same list of core commitments to myself—eat healthy, lose weight, get in the gym, save money, spend time with family, read through the Bible, pray every day, read books, watch less TV, control my calendar, and be more disciplined. I typically don’t start until today—the 2nd of January—because I stayed up to watch the ball drop and there is always food left over from Christmas. I’m just trying to be practical.

Unfortunately, starting on the 2nd shows my true commitment and inability to grow into my new life on my own. What I have discovered is that I need help to make real change. Someone who knows me and is strong enough to push me when I get stuck or stubborn.

The good news is that is that I know the One “who made the universe” and sits at the right hand of God. He too wants me and you to have new life—new life in Him. Through His power we can change and have new life.

Questions

1.      Are you satisfied with your life? Are you who you want to be?

2.      When did Jesus become more than just a name to you? Will you let Him help you become the person God made you to be?

Prayer

Jesus, I want to change and I can’t do it myself. Send Your Spirit to help me be the person You made me to be. Amen.

—Joe Valentino

What Can You Do?

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, a time to get together with friends and celebrate the coming of the next 12 months. Maybe have a drink or two.

It is also a time to listen to sports analysts telling us which teams will win the big game and which teams will suffer destruction.

And of course, it is a time to actually watch the big game.

 New Year’s is also a time for renewal; a time for resolution. A time to lose some weight. A time to join an exercise club. A time to change a habit.

 Today’s reading is Zephaniah 1:1-3. Zephaniah, a prophet living about 620 BC during the reign of King Josiah, warns Judah of its coming ruin for not following the Lord and his laws and commandments..

 Zephaniah’s prophecy was for those living in Judah at the time, but it also is for us.

 Those who are not believers will suffer eternal punishment. They will be destroyed, just like creation, on Judgment Day. As Zephaniah says, “The wicked will have only heaps of rubble when I cut off man from the face of the earth.”

Those who are believers will also be cut off from the face of the earth, but they will have a better place. Believers will be ushered off to Heaven!

Zephaniah is a bit like the sports analysts that tell us who is going to win the big game. The sports analysts are often times wrong. On the other hand, Zephaniah is 100% correct. Destruction is coming.

 The Israelites were to follow God’s Law. We, followers of Jesus, are to grow his Kingdom. Growing his Kingdom is the only way to bring non-believers to faith, saving them from eternal destruction.

 We are to share the Gospel, we are to care and love others and we are to help others in faith to grow their faith.

 Many of us will make resolutions for the coming year and that is good. Let’s also remember to make a resolution for God.

 What can you do in 2016 to help grow the Kingdom of God?

 Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2013

Psalm 96:1-4 (NIV)  Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.  Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.  For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

What a perfect note to end the year on!  Sing to the LORD...Declare His glory...Great is the LORD! It is a privilege to compose words for this, the final day of 2013.  

What has the year been like for you?  Are you happy to see it end and are you looking forward to a better time of things in 2014?  We all have these seasons.  I must say, while 2013 had its challenges, I grew and I learned so much because of those very difficulties.  I especially learned of God's faithfulness.  I was reminded daily of His great love for me.  It was a good year and I am looking forward to 2014.

But, even if it weren't a good year, even if everything fell apart for me, God is still worthy to be praised. I know that God deserves my love and obedience regardless of my perception of how things are going for me.  I will, "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples" at all times. It might not be easy, but I will do it anyway.

A valuable lesson learned over the past three years is that God sees the big picture.  He knows how the actions of today impact tomorrow's results.  He cares so much for you and me that He is willing to accept our doubt and questions and love us anyway.  He made us to learn from the bad times, and to remember all the dark yesterdays as we walk toward a bright today.

So, as we prepare to enter 2014 with hope and expectation we will not be disappointed no matter what lies ahead. We need only "sing praise to the LORD" during good times and bad. Happy New Year!

Psalm 96