Be joyful in HOPE,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
Share with the Lord’s
people who are in need.
Romans 12:12-13

Have Strength and Hope for the New Year!

“I achieved every goal in 2011 and then some! I lost more weight and exercised more than I needed to, I am proud of my spiritually strong life and my finances are healthy. I don’t need to set any goals for 2012!” Did you hear someone make such a statement recently? I didn’t. I didn’t hear anything even close to that! For most of us reflecting on the year past reveals our failures and weaknesses. We look forward to the New Year as a time for moving on, a fresh start, and setting goals to improve our life. Why is that?!? Why isn’t it the other way around? In a way, the new year is a yearly reminder of the truth in Scripture that we are all born with a sinful nature. This sinful nature shows itself in our weaknesses and shortcomings every year. Not only do we fail year to year, but if our sinful nature rules our life we will fail God’s judgement on the Last Day.

Before we set our goals for the New Year it is good to remember that Jesus Christ came to us with a goal. It wasn’t to live healthy or make lots of money. No, Jesus came with the purpose of being your substitute and dying for you. At his crucifixion Jesus paid for all of your failures and sins. The resurrection of Jesus is proof that he met his goal! You are forgiven and heaven is open to you who believe in him.

The Prophet Isaiah said, “[God] gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40: 29-31) Put your hope in Jesus this and every New Year! The Lord will renew your strength for this life, and open the doorway to the next.

Pastor Kerkow