by David Brenneman
Several thoughts began wrapping up within me yesterday. Not necessarily of 2023, but of the journey through the Bible that I had been on for the last year.
Have you considered what the lineages shown in the Gospels as well as the talk that Jesus had with a few Disciples mean? Jesus showed those few all about Himself as written in the Old Testament from Moses onward. In several Gospels we have the lineage for both Mary's side of the family as well as Joseph's. All the way back to Adam and Eve.
We read in Psalms where we know that before we were born Jesus knew us as we were being knitted together in our mother's womb.
We know that we were born in this here and this now for His reasons and not some other place and time.
Put it and other thoughts together like the truth that we read of His never leaving us or forsaking us. That it is He who searches the hearts of mankind.
Keep putting it together.
Now...consider all that has happened in human history that brought about...you.
All the work that Jesus has gone through to give you the best life possible for you.
Consider well...now...to Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. He's had human centuries to work in the lived of trillions and trillions of people.
You are uniquely you in the eyes of God to a specific point. You are loved by Jesus unlike anyone you have ever known or will know. His truths about life are for you.
He knows every single person in human history from Adam to you who lived in order to make you possible.
Your 2024 isn't yours anymore than your 2023 was. It's not about personal betterment. It's not about pushing yourself to see successes that the world will laud you for. It's not about your life being all that you want it to be. A life in Christ is one that is growing in Christ to be like Christ...and to be the next person in human history to impact the lives that will come after you until Jesus returns.
Your life in 2024 needs a renewed sense of purpose to grow in Christ if you indeed want to see it be better than 2023.
When we accept the truth that God's will for us is our sanctification...what comes to mind? The Disciples had to learn...daily...to let go of self in order to see this happen in their lives.
As the Hymn goes "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way. While we do His good will, He abides with us still. Never fear only trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
Letting go of self justification and self gratification in what we do and why we do it isn't easy. Look at what we know of the temptations that Jesus faced with Satan.
So pray about your days, weeks, months that are before you for 2024. As a friend pointed out again Saturday...make it your goal to keep pace with Jesus. In a race, He will always win. In succeeding in life as the Spirit says success is...we need to keep up with Jesus in what He's doing.
We aren't to sit or get complacent. When we don't understand, trust and obey. When we think it makes sense, trust and obey.
Trust God and leave the consequences to Him. Drop whatever is in your life that isn't helping you in what Jesus is doing with you.
Follow King David's example. Pour out your heart before Jesus. Hold nothing back. Jesus wants all of you, so lay it all out before Him and ask Him for all the help you know you desperately need from Him to succeed as He's desiring for you.
Every detail of my life and yours is known by Him. Every insinuation towards or against sinful behaviors and practices. He knows because He’s right there with you.
My hopes for 2024 are still to pray for those people who's names He's not letting me forget. He's given me several books to go with my Bible reading to help me grow in Christ. To be honest and wholeheartedly truthful...I do not miss the things that the Spirit has convinced me to get rid of.
Life is much more than we can ever imagine when we keep pace with Jesus and don't quit when He’s encouraging our need to be persistent.
Pray on, pray over and pray through 2024.
This very well could be the year that Jesus Christ returns. Jesus said to be on the alert for you know not when your Savior is going to appear. There ARE wars and rumors of wars. There ARE earthquakes and famines in various places. People ARE lovers of self, disrespectful, disobedient to parents...and all the rest that Timothy was told would be evidences.
Make your life right before Jesus...be ready to see Him. To be found by Him doing that which He's called you to be doing. Every detail matters.
We know our Redeemer lives.
We know His promises.
We are guided to set our minds on the things above and not on the things that are of this world.
We are to be holy as He is Holy. That is...separated, set apart, for the will of God for us in Christ Jesus.
Every detail of your life and mine is ever on His mind because it matters to Him. Live 2024 like that matters to you too.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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