Doing Good in the New Year

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:7-11

I enjoy this part of the year because we can start to look forward to the New Year.  The New Year is an interesting time in which we can look back at the blessing, the triumphs and failures, the challenges, and the twists and turns from the past year.  But, at the same time, we can look forward to the next year.  No matter how good our previous year was, we can always be better!  In the next few days, we will look at some verses related to the New Year.

This passage deals with sowing and reaping.  Sometimes we think of this passage in fear, thinking (rightly) that we don’t want to do evil things because we don’t want the results of those evil things.  We don’t want to sow evil because we don’t want to reap evil.  That is a good thing.  But we can also look at it in another way.  We can look at it from a positive standpoint.

We want to do the right things because we want the results that doing those right things will bring.  We want to sow good in order to reap good.  The law of sowing and reaping works both ways.

So, what should we do in this new year?  We need to, in the words of verse 10, “…do good unto all men…”  Just do right – all year long!

Help Others In The New Year

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Galatians 6:1-3

I enjoy this part of the year because we can start to look forward to the New Year.  The New Year is an interesting time in which we can look back at the blessing, the triumphs and failures, the challenges, and the twists and turns from the past year.  But, at the same time, we can look forward to the next year.  No matter how good our previous year was, we can always be better!  In the next few days, we will look at some verses related to the New Year.

There are many “resolutions” that we could make in the new year.  Usually, those resolutions center on ourselves and on our physical lives – losing weight, eating healthier, saving money, etc.  Sometimes they even center on our spiritual lives – reading the Bible through, praying more, telling people about the Lord, etc.  But we might also consider a resolution dealing with how we treat others.

This passage tells us to help each other.  When we see that a brother or sister has fallen, we need to help them up.  Too often, we tend to get puffed up and we tend to look down on those who have stumbled or are stumbling.  But the Bible tells us to help each other and it tells us to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think.  We are nothing without the grace and mercy of God.  We need to show that grace and mercy to others and that is something that we can all work on in the new year!

New Year, New Man

But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

Ephesians 4:20-24

I enjoy this part of the year because we can start to look forward to the New Year.  The New Year is an interesting time in which we can look back at the blessing, the triumphs and failures, the challenges, and the twists and turns from the past year.  But, at the same time, we can look forward to the next year.  No matter how good our previous year was, we can always be better!  In the next few days, we will look at some verses related to the New Year.

In this passage, we are told to “…put on the new man.”  As Christians, we have two natures, the old man and the new man.  The old man is sinful.  The new man is created in Christ Jesus.  The old man want to sin.  The new man wants to do right.  There is and will always be a struggle between the two.  Just as we would look into the closet in the morning and put on one shirt or another, so each day (and even each moment) we must choose to serve the Lord or serve our flesh.  The Bible implores us to “put on the new man.”  We should serve the Lord.

In this coming year, let us do our best to put on the new man each and every day.  Let us do our best to serve the Lord and not ourselves!

Hark, The Herald Angels Sing (Hymn)

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
Charles Wesley (1739)

Hark!  The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain
Hark!  The herald angels sing,Glory to the newborn King!

Christ, by highest Heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Refrain

Hail the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Refrain

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Refrain

Adam’s likeness, now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Refrain

I know that Christmas is over now, but “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is probably my favorite Christmas hymn, so I had to put it in.  There is more deep doctrine in this hymn than we can find in most Christmas sermons around the country this Christmas season.  Every verse is powerful and it is a joy to sing.  I only wish we would sing Christmas hymns all year long!

 

New Things For a New Year

Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it?  I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.

Isaiah 48:6

I enjoy this part of the year because we can start to look forward to the New Year.  The New Year is an interesting time in which we can look back at the blessing, the triumphs and failures, the challenges, and the twists and turns from the past year.  But, at the same time, we can look forward to the next year.  No matter how good our previous year was, we can always be better!  In the next few days, we will look at some verses related to the New Year.

In this verse, we see that God says “I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.”  This may come as a shock, but we do not know everything.  There are things that we do not know.  You might know some of the things that I don’t know and I might know some of the things you don’t know.  The point is, there are a lot of things that we do not know.

But God does know all things.  God can show us and teach us things, and He has promised to do so.  In this New Year, we can look forward to learning and receiving the things that God wants to show and teach us.  We can ask Him to show and teach us many things this year.  And He will, if we will only pay attention.  Those things may be hidden now, but He can and will reveal them.

What can we learn about the Lord and from the Lord in the New Year?  Whatever it is, we need to be ready to receive it!

Christmas

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David: )  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:1-14

This might be the day after Christmas, but let us live in the light of the Christmas story all year long.  Let us always remember and be thankful for our Saviour!

Christmas From Matthew, Pt. 12

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 

Matthew 2:3-6

In this last post from the Christmas story in the book of Matthew, we will look at a mistake that the people in the time of Jesus made and a mistake that the people in our time make.  When Herod asked the chief priests and scribes where Christ would be born, they immediately told him.  He would be born in Bethlehem.  They were even able to quote the exact passage of Scripture.

But they weren’t looking for Him.

They knew the stories.  They knew the prophecies.  They knew all of the things about the Saviour, but they were not looking for Him.  They were even the chief priests and the scribes.  They were the ones who should have been looking for Him and preparing the way for Him.  They should have been telling everyone else about Him and His coming.

But they weren’t even paying attention.

How descriptive of our society is that?  Everyone knows all about Christmas.  Everyone knows the story of the baby Jesus and has seen dozens of manger scenes.  Everyone knows the words to “Silent Night” and “Away in the Manger.”  Many people might even be able to say a few of the famous Christmas verses.  But are they really paying attention?  Do they really care?

We have Christmas in our heads, but do we have it in our hearts?

 

Christmas From Matthew, Pt. 11

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 

Matthew 2:3-6

In this passage in the book of Matthew, there is one small part of the story of Herod and the wise men that I had never noticed before this year.  We all know that when Herod heard about the coming King, he was angry.  We all know what Herod did to try to eliminate this newborn King.  But what I had never noticed was this verse: “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”  “…and all Jerusalem with him.”

Herod wasn’t the only one troubled by the thought of another King of the Jews.  “All Jerusalem with him” was troubled.  They were likely living well in the regional capital and probably didn’t want anything or anyone coming in and disturbing their routine.  They probably didn’t want anyone rocking the boat.

It wasn’t just Herod who was disturbed at the coming King.  It was all of the people around him, too.  The two ways in which people respond to the coming of Jesus cannot be more clear: there were those excited about his coming and who worshipped Him, and then there were those who were troubled at His coming.  Hopefully, we find ourselves in the correct group during this Christmas season!

Christmas From Matthew, Pt. 10

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.  When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.  And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Matthew 1:7-12

In this part of the Christmas story in the book of Matthew, we find a different reaction to Christmas that we are used to seeing.  Usually, people respond positively to Christmas, even people who do not know the Lord Jesus.  But there are those who hate Christmas, people who hate everything it is and everything for which it stands.

Herod was one of those people.  He thought that he was the “king of the Jews.”  Hearing of another “King of the Jews” made him nervous, and even filled him with a jealous rage.  He went so far as to issue a commandment that all of the male children in the area were to be killed, not sparing any.  It is a horrible thought to contemplate – hating the coming of Jesus so much that he was willing to kill many, many innocent babies.

Today, there are those who want to rule their own lives.  They do not want to submit to Jesus.  And those people, like Herod, hate the thought of Christmas.  They might not mind the presents and the lights and the festivities of Christmas, but they hate the true meaning of it.  Let us pray for those “Herods” around us this Christmas season, that they would come to know the Saviour – the true meaning of Christmas!

 

Silent Night (Hymn)

Silent Night
Joseph Mohr (1818)

Silent Night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child,
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus Lord at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

To me, this is the classic Christmas hymn and it always makes me think of my Grandma as it was her favorite Christmas carol.  It has been translated in numerous languages and has been a blessing to people at Christmas time for nearly two hundred years.  I once read an article about it that said that during the Christmas truce in World War I, the French, English and German soldiers all sang this song together, as it was the only one they all knew.  “Christ the Savior is born.”  That is what Christmas is all about!