In the book Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, she says this:
We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.
It somehow seems appropriate to begin this new year by looking back to see the way the Lord has led us, and what He’s been teaching us. It will be different for each one of us, but let’s lay a common foundation that we can safely stand on. Let’s look back in the book of Lamentations.
This book reflects on the tragic fall of Jerusalem. Now there was trouble, yet in Chapter 3, verses 22-26 we read these words of hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
It’s good to wait with hope quietly in our hearts and minds. The beauty and the tenderness of the Fruit of the Spirit can best be expressed when we’re quiet in our heartfelt emotions, balanced in our thinking.
This approach to our Christian walk is what makes it possible for us to progress from knowing to doing. For instance, we know that the Bible clearly tells us that we’re to faithfully serve God. But what action should emerge from knowing that?
Well, what idea has been humming around in your heart and mind? What is something you believe God has been nudging you to do?
Some ask: What age do I have to be to do something for the Lord? The answer is: Whatever age you are!
God calls us when we’re young and when we’re old. It was Billy Graham who said:
The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.
Graham didn’t put a time limit on it, and neither should we.
We clearly know from history that age isn’t a factor. Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years; Sarah gave birth to Isaac when she was in her nineties.
Age is not a factor. As long as we’re alive, we’re called to serve. God’s life-long request of us to be a prayerful steward of our time, the talents we’ve been born with and the spiritual gifts we’ve been given.
Great is God’s continuing faithfulness towards us. What actions will we take to demonstrate our faithfulness to Him?
Here are a few lines from a William Wordsworth poem to encourage us.
If thou indeed derive thy light from heaven, then, to the measure of that heaven-born light, Shine, Poet! in thy place, and be content.
Our loving actions make this a better world. We demonstrate our love for our Saviour by writing words or composing music, by building, renovating or repairing something, by inventing or creating something, by encouraging others, by investing our time to help the dreams of others come true. Our loving actions add to the way we worship; let’s increase our praise for the One who created us and sustains us.
Let’s tell people what Jesus has done for us so they can get to know Him too. Let’s help our churches and our homes become strong, steady lighthouses for people who are longing to meet their Saviour, people longing to be forgiven. As Christians, we’re called to use the talents and the spiritual gifts we’ve been given to make this a better world.
2021 is full of possibilities. Some of our old ways of doing things will still work, but there are new ways of doing things just waiting for us to discover them. Let’s discover them, and see how they can increase our faithfulness to the One who first loved us.
Let’s serve our Saviour in ways we never imagined we could. Great is His faithfulness to us! Our faithfulness to Him can be great too!
In 2021, let’s let our light shine for Jesus wherever we are, and be content in Him. So be it. Amen.
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