'A New Year'
to see what 2024 has in store. It is going to be a great year and I’m looking forward to it. On top of that, I have resolutions that will make me a better and happier person.” The optimists have a much better chance of having a good year. At least they have high hopes and great intentions. Mark Twain wryly said, “Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” The truth is that most people give up on resolutions by January 17. They start out strong but things begin to interfere with their newly laid plans and motivation wanes. The greatest probability of change comes when a person can regularly engage the new activity for all of January.
The next question is your choice of resolution. Is it to lose weight like most people? How about regular exercise? Being nicer to the person that is frustrating the dickens out of you? Not blowing being so angry? While these are all good, there is something better that will help you in immeasurably better ways. What would happen if you read the Bible 5 days a week? What if you asked God to help you learn what you need to out of the passage you are about to read? What if, after the reading, you ask the Holy Spirit to help you say or do what God is speaking to you about? It would utterly change your life and the lives of those around you!
The scriptures is filled with truth about who God is, who you are, how God wants to work in your life, and how God will empower you by His Holy Spirit to accomplish this. God reveals His truth about what good relationships look like, how families flourish, how to operate in business, how to take care of your personal finances, what spiritual gifts God gives us, how to serve people, and how the Holy Spirit can make all these things happen in your life. As our lives change in all these areas, we will make a huge impact on others, our families, our workplace, our community organizations, and our church. The impact will last way beyond just 2024. As the main character in the movie “Gladiator” said, “What you do today will echo in eternity.”
I encourage you to pick up a 5X5X5 New Testament reading schedule at the Welcome Center or the entrance to the sanctuary. It will give you a plan, encouragement with each time you make a check by the chapter, and a tremendous sense of spiritual growth all along the way. By reading 5 times a week (work days) for 5 minutes, with 5 ways of looking at the scripture will enable you to read through the entire New Testament in one year, 2024.
Here is the simple formula: Sit down where you can concentrate for a short time. Ask God to reveal to you what He wants you to know from the reading. Then read the chapter. Ask God to speak to you to clarify what it is you've learn from the chapter. Finally, pray to the Holy Spirit to enable you to put it into practice. It is a simple formula that can take you as little as 5 minutes.
Make a resolution to read through the entire New Testament this year. Put that time in your calendar. Make sure you do it up to and past January 17. If you make this resolution, it will echo through every area of your life and into eternity. It will do far more for you than losing 10 pounds or walking on the treadmill. When you wade into the Scriptures, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
May God immeasurably bless you in 2024!
Jonathan