Blog

Modified and reprinted from January 7, 2024.

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Happy New Year!

A few days into the new year has the “newness” of the year worn off?  Perhaps you have gotten used to seeing “2025” and even mastered writing “25” instead of “24.”  The celebration of the new year quickly fades into the routine that make it just “another” year.  The brief relief of letting go of the year past and embracing the new year perhaps has quickly faded.

But there is something about new starts that we all love.  Fresh starts allow us to put something in the past and embrace the possibilities of the future.  A fresh start allows us to let go of failures and embark on a new vision ahead.

The start of a new year is a natural time for a new beginning.  Perhaps you have made some resolutions to do some things differently this year (How are you doing on yours?).  There is power in a fresh start.

New starts are not foreign to the Christian.  In fact, the power of a fresh start comes from our relationship with Jesus.  Our life as Christians is the reality of a fresh start.  The Apostle Paul put it this way: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Consider these “fresh starts” God gives us.

In our baptism…

Romans 6:3-4 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

In the Lord’s Supper we live in the new covenant of forgiveness instead of the Old Testament law:

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

The promise of heaven is a promise of an eternity in the new heavens void of all the suffering of the current earth:

Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

The truth is that when we are with Jesus by faith, he makes everything new.  He gives us a new identity (Child of God); he gives us new purpose (to live for him); he gives us a new relationship with him (Our sins are forgiven); and much more.  There is nothing better than a fresh start that the Spirit of God gives us when we are connected to the Lord by faith in Jesus.  It’s this new, fresh start that we will unpack in the days ahead.  It’s this fresh start that we get to enjoy every day of 2025!

 

Apply: In what part of your life do you need a fresh start?  How does your connection to Jesus give that new, fresh start?

Prayer: Lord, thank you in your grace for giving me new life, forgiveness, and new connection to you.  Enable me to enjoy and live in this fresh start each day!  AMEN.

27 years ago today, my lovely wife Christy committed her life to mine and mine to hers.  I couldn’t have been more blessed.  I dedicate this devotion to her and the amazing blessing she has been in my life.

Our wedding message was Colossians 3:12-14

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

To be honest, I don’t remember a lot of the specifics in the message that day, but I have seen these verses play out in our marriage and especially in Christy’s expression of love to me for these many years.  Here are four reflections on what has kept our marriage together and growing all these years:

Share a common identity. 

We are both God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.

One of the last things that couples consider in the person they consider marrying is spiritual intimacy.  God created us with a soul to have connection with him and this spiritual connection is intended to give husband and wife a common foundation on which to build a marriage.  I am so thankful that God has worked a tremendous faith and conviction of grace in my wife.  She knows she is a holy, dearly loved child of God because of Jesus and sees me the same way.  It’s our relationship with Jesus that allows all the other aspects of these verses to come into play.

Wear the right clothes.

I need to clean out my closet.  I have things I haven’t worn in years and things that are too big or too small.  Advice says to keep the things in your closet that you enjoy wearing and want to wear and get rid of the rest.

There are a lot of stinky clothes that I have worn in my actions and heart that have not always been compassionate, kind, humble, gentle or patient.  Short words, self-centered actions, and lack of compassion to listen are just a small sample of the stinky clothes in my sinful wardrobe.  Thankfully Christy is willing to tell me these clothes stink and to get rid of them (both physically and spiritually).  Our relationship is much better with the amazing, always in fashion look of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  She looks amazing in them and I look pretty good when I put them on too!

Forgive. Forgive. Forgive.

Real estate people say the key to a building’s value is location, location, location.  I would say the key to a lasting marriage is forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness.  I have far surpassed not just the “seven times” that Peter wanted to forgive his brother, but even 7×70 times (490).  I am amazed a my wife’s heart to forgive, forgive and forgive again.  I have been a slow…very slow…learner with some of the ways I have sinned against her.  I can push her forgiveness limits, but yet her love for Jesus leads her to forgive…and we are probably well over 7x7x7x7x7x7x7 (or so) times!

Put on Christ’s love.

I type the word “Christ” a lot in my profession as a pastor.  I don’t know how many times I have had to delete a “y” I accidentally tack on the end when I type “Christ” and it ends up “Christy.”  I am worried that somewhere I have inaccurately substituted my wife for Christ!  However, after 27 years of living with her, there is an amazing representation in Christy of Christ.  The love of Christ has filled her more and more and her life as Christy is an amazing representation of the love of Christ. Christ has wrapped her in his love, and she is more than willing to wrap that same love around me.

Thank you Christy for being an amazing wife, a true friend and confidant, an encourager and partner in life, and most importantly showing and living Christ’s love for me and our girls every day.  I pray I can be the same for you for many more years to come!

 

Apply: What application can you grow in to be a blessing in your marriage or other relationships?

Prayer: Lord, I simply thank you for the gift of my godly spouse and all she has brought to me through these years!  Bless and guide our relationship for many years to come.  AMEN

Twenty years ago in 2005, I preached a sermon series at the beginning of the year entitled, “ALIVE in 2005!”  The word ALIVE rhymed with “five” and it fit well.

Guess what, twenty years later, the same rhyme works, and it’s worth thinking about as we begin 2025!

ALIVE in 2025!

So what does ALIVE stand for? 

To start, if you are reading this, you are alive, but it stands for much more…a perspective with which we want to live each and every day and year of our lives.

Always Live In View (of) Eternity!

Always Live in View of Eternity

So, what does that mean or look like as you enter 2025?

1. Take time for what is most important – time with Jesus!

Luke 10:38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

How will you spend more time with Jesus and his word this year?

 

2. Store up treasures in heaven.

Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

How will you invest your time more for spiritual growth, sharing your faith, or leaving a legacy of faith this year rather than just accumulating material wealth?

 

3. Live with an eternal peace and perspective.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Remember as you go through the joys and challenges of 2025, Jesus has settled the biggest issue of your relationship with God.  Through his life, death and resurrection, you are forgiven and loved by your heavenly Father.  This means each day you are loved and each day heaven is your eternal home.

Apply: With the Lord’s help, be ALIVE in 2025!  Live each day in view of eternity!  It’s what is lasting and most important!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing us to the beginning of another year.  Journey with us into the New Year, even as you faithfully have been with us in the year past.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions based on Week 5 “He Shall Be Called: Jesus” (CLICK HERE!)

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Today ends another year.  In a few hours, 2024 will be relegated to history.

Was 2024 a good year for you (however, you want to define “good”)?  Was 2024 a bad year for you (again, however you want to define “bad”).  Was there something you hoped would happen in 2024 but never did?  Are you hoping that event will happen in 2025?

We can all look back at periods of our life where we are waiting for something to happen.

Perhaps it’s wanting to be out of grade school, high school, or college?  Maybe it’s waiting to find the man or woman of your dreams to marry.  Maybe it’s landing the perfect job that fits your skills and your passion.

It can be hard to wait and hard to understand why something doesn’t happen in the timeframe you believe it should have.

Imagine if you were Adam…after 930 New Year’s Eves the one God promised to crush the head of the serpent never came.  Imagine being Abraham and wondering for 175 New Year’s if the great nation he was promised had arrived?  Imagine David, Solomon, the prophets of Isaiah, Jeremiah, or captives like Daniel or Nehemiah…wondering every time they flipped the calendar if this would be the year God would bring about the “consolation of Israel.”  Finally a faithful believer named Simeon was given a promise that he would not die until he saw the fulfillment of the promised Messiah that had been given hundreds…thousands of years earlier.

To us it may seem like an eternity, but to God the passing of years is just a progression of his plan.  The events of each year were not random acts of history, but putting all the pieces in place needed for the glorious event of Jesus, the Savior, being born for you and me and all people.

The Apostle Paul put it this way: Galatians 4:4-7 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

It was the set year, the set month, the set day, the set time that God had determined in eternity which he now played out in time.

Was it worth the wait?  For sure!

For the moment that Jesus entered the world he went to work keeping the law of God perfectly (See Luke 2:21-40).  He grew up.  He went to the cross…for one purpose: To make you God’s child.

If you are one who trusts in Jesus as your Savior, God orchestrated a set time for that work of his Spirit to change your heart.  

If God can work the events of time to bring you the promise of eternity, he will orchestrate the year ahead for your blessing and his glory.  Close down 2024 today, but step confidently into 2025 tomorrow!

 

Apply: How has God worked in your life this past year?  Do you see his hand guiding events for your blessing and his glory?  How so?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of time, the gift of 2024.  Forgive me for my failures to steward it always well.  Give me perspective that you promise to work all for my good and grant me your blessings in 2025! AMEN.

Today’s devotion is based on Week 5 of “He Shall Be Called: Jesus -He saves you! (WATCH HERE)

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What’s in a name?

For the month of December we have been reflecting on the names that Isaiah gave to Jesus…Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace and Emmanuel.  Each of these names carry tremendous meaning and significance as we consider the life and work of Jesus.

But might we consider these slightly different than his actual name?  He was “called” these things because he embodied and carried out each of those things which Isaiah foretold.

But his NAME was “Jesus.”

The angel told Joseph: Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Eight days after his birth at his circumcision ceremony, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded and gave the boy born to Mary the NAME, Jesus.

Luke 2:21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

This was the way he would be known to his parents.  Every time he would need to come in from playing outside to have dinner, “Jesus, it’s time to eat!”  Every time it was time to call it a day and go to bed, “Jesus, it’s time for bed.”  Every time it was time to wake up and begin the day, “Jesus, time to get up!”  Every time Joseph needed a tool in his shop, “Jesus can you bring me the hammer.”

Sure he was called, “Teacher.”  He was called, “Rabboni.”  He was even called “Beelzebub.”  But his NAME was Jesus.

It was a name that was divinely chosen for the specific purpose he came to this earth.

“To save his people from their sins.”

Every time the name “Jesus” was said by his parents, his friends, his disciples, and yes, even his enemies it was a confession, known or unknown, of what his purpose of being born was: to Save his people from their sins.

To be sure, he is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace and Emmanuel, but to Mary and Joseph he was Jesus.  To us, he is Jesus.

The descriptors Isaiah is inspired to write are theologically rich, divinely true, and significant characteristics of the boy born in the manger of Bethlehem.  But his name Jesus is significantly personal.  He is one we know and he is one who knows us.  We are on a first name basis. John 10:3 He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Here is the deep, personal significance of knowing Jesus and being on a first name basis.  Like a child who is in trouble calls out, “Mom!” or “Dad!” looking for help and to be delivered from a predicament, so we are invited to use the name of Jesus for the very purpose of calling out to him to be saved from the consequence of our sin, “Jesus! Save me.”

Here’s the glorious promise and power of the name of Jesus, prophesied by Joel, fulfilled by Jesus and proclaimed by Peter:

Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Enjoy being a first name basis with Jesus.  Enjoy your relationship with him and call on him often!

 

Apply: As we come to the end of the year, evaluate your relationship with the Lord Jesus.  How has it been a blessing? How could it be better in 2025?

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for sharing not just your name, but your work with us so we might always be certain we are saved from the punishment our sins deserve.  AMEN.