NOT JUST ANOTHER YEAR; Maximizing the
New Year
It is always a thing of joy and much
anticipations for us to see the new year. As the days go by in the year , many
of these anticipations die and people begin to expect to see another new year .
The circle of times and seasons continues for many without tangibly making the
year unique for them. This being the beginning of a new year , the question
then is , how do we maximize this year to make it not just another year?
First understand that no matter the
year there are certain things that remain
unchanged. Many times every year comes with its evils. You can pray to be
delivered from evil. No matter the year, it is still a sick and dying world.
The fall of man is consistently having a toll on the world . This will not
change till Jesus returns. Our bodies still remains immortal no matter the year
we are in.
Philippians 3 : 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from
whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious
body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto
himself.
There is no year that the above
factors will change. Many times , these
factors causes certain things to happen that make people to question the
character of God. We hear of sicknesses ravaging people’s bodies because of our
vile bodies and the wickedness of men. To fully maximize the year , we must exonerate
God from any evil that happens on earth. God is Good and in Him is no evil at
all.
James 1
17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning.
18 Of
his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first
fruits of his creatures
Notice what God gives is good and
perfect. It is the new creature that is born of God. Notice the description of
God in verse 17. God is the father of lights
with whom there is no variableness or change . There is certainty in His nature
. God is not the father of darkness, He is not the father of evil. He is the
father of lights. We see this clearly when we look at Jesus, God manifest in
the flesh. Christ is the image of the invisible God. Colossians 1: 15 Who
is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Therefore
to fully know the invisible God we must look at Jesus. When Christ walked the
earth, He never caused any pandemic or evil. He went about healing people oppressed
of the devil. Acts 10:38. This is where we see God in healing and saving men. Understanding
the nature of God that He is not involved in evil will help us to take
responsibility for the year.
Psalm 115 : 16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S:
but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
The earth is under the control of men.
In this earth, we have new creatures in Christ and unbelievers. These men in
the light (in Christ) and in the darkness (outside Christ) regulate the
activities of this earth. Many people have believed on a false sovereignty of
God. They believe God is in charge of everything that happens on earth in a
year. This will make God to be extremely wicked and it will invalidate the
place of the choice of men. Where we see the sovereignty of God is in salvation.
The regeneration of men is wrought solely by God through His Spirit once a man believes.
Even at this, a man still needs to believe the gospel and receive the work of
salvation wrought by Christ.
How does all these help us to
maximize the year ? First it will help us to realize the importance of our
choices in determining what happens to us in the year. We must take
responsibility for the year instead of looking for God to blame. Does it mean
God is not involved at all in our activities in the year? God is fully involved
in us as believers. How is God involved? By His WORD AND HIS SPIRIT.
Therefore to make the most out of the
year, we must ensure we act on God’s word always. We must allow God’s word to
regulate every of our conduct. There is no greater blessedness than the
blessedness of doing the word. This year let your life be SOLELY REGULATED by
God’s word in Christ. If God’s word says you can do you can no matter your experiences.
James 1
21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and
receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But
be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For
if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding
his natural face in a glass:
24 For
he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner
of man he was.
25 But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being
not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in
his deed.
A believer who does not act on the
word deceives himself. Doing the word in this context of James 1 is not
forgetting the manner of man you are in the gospel (perfect law of liberty). For example, when a believer thinks he doesn’t
have power, he is deceiving himself because he has exceeding greatness of God’s
power as Ephesians 1:19 told us. When a believer thinks he is not righteous, he
is deceiving himself because he is the righteousness of God in Christ ( 2
Corinthians 5:21). A believer living in sin is also deceiving himself because he
has the power to live above sin in Christ. What is God’s word? It is simply the
gospel of Jesus. It is communication of Christ as documented in the Bible.
God’s word must become your only
reality this year like never before. In the word, we see that as believers, we
ought
To PREACH the gospel to everyone.
Mark 16:15-17
To PRAY without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
To LOVE one another and even our
enemies. Romans 13:8, Luke 6 :35
To HONOUR your pastors. 1
Thessalonians 5: 12-13, Hebrews 13:7,17
To COVET Spirituals(the things/gifts
of the Spirit) and despise not prophesying. 1 Corinthians 12 :31, 1
Thessalonians 5:20
And many other instructions we see in
the word . Now for any of these instructions, you don’t necessarily need a thus
says the Lord to carry them out. YOU DO NOT NEED A THUS SAYS THE LORD BEFORE
YOU CARRY OUT ANY INSTRUCTION CLEARLY STATED IN GOD’S WORD. You can only be led of the Lord on how to go
about it. You don’t need to ask the Lord should I pray ? Should I preach ?
Should I give ? All you need do is to make up your mind to allow God’s word
regulate every of your conduct this year like never before.
Psalms 1
1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But
his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and
night.
3 And
he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his
fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth
shall prosper.
A man that do the word is always
fruitful no matter the environment he finds himself. This means that other
persons may be complaining that the year is bad, but you will be enjoying the
blessedness of doing the word. You may go through same storms that others go
through but you will have different results because you know how to do the
word. You know you should be given to prayers when afflicted not complaining. You know to hear from God and
follow the leading of the Spirit. You know to maximize relationships and not
despise people. You are doing the word. You are not the one that says it is all
about God and despise men.
There is nothing you will ever want
from God that don’t come from men. In the same vein, you cannot want to do
something for God without doing it for men. John will say you cannot say you
love God when you don’t love men. ANYTHING you will ever want is IN THE HANDS
OF ANOTHER MAN. This is not just in spiritual things . Even in your worldly
endeavors and career, you learn to VALUE RELATIONSHIPS. You build relationships.
In summary, it is foolishness to do
the same things the same way and expect different results. To make sure that
this year will not be just another year, learn to do things differently in
areas you were not getting it right before. Be deliberate about doing God’s
word and following the leading of the Spirit in everything. Maximize relationships
and take responsibility for your choices knowing fully well that God cannot
stop you in making your choices . Let your choices be in the light according to
God’s word and the leading of the Spirit.
Your year is blessed.