New Year, New Commitments

Written by Peter Amsterdam 01 January 2015

The beginning of a new year is such an interesting time. We often think back over our experiences of the past year as well as look ahead to what the new year will bring. It can be encouraging to see the challenges met, the victories won, the progress made, the commitments carried through, and the blessings we’ve had throughout the previous year. It’s also a time to assess areas where we had hoped we’d make headway but didn’t quite live up to our aspirations. Perhaps there’s something to learn from the hard times and difficulties—or even some outright failures—that we experienced.

As the door to the new year opens, and while you are thinking about the resolutions or commitments you will make, this is also a good time to put some thought and prayer into your relationship with Jesus, your prayer life, your service, your giving. The tasks of supporting ourselves and our families, raising and educating our children, taking care of our daily needs, are all vital responsibilities and part of what builds a better future in this life and world; yet we are reminded of what Jesus told His followers: “Desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”1

Making commitments to our relationship with God, to basing our values on His teachings, can and will make a difference in our daily lives throughout our lifetime and in the hereafter as well. These commitments will make us more Christlike in our interactions with others and a greater blessing to our families, friends, and loved ones—better individuals, more godly human beings. That’s worth committing to.
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The only limits to the possibilities in your life tomorrow are the “buts” you use today.—Les Brown (b. 1945)

The problem that we are facing in the church today is that we have so many Christians who have made a decision to believe in Jesus but not a commitment to follow Him. We have people who are planning to, meaning to, trying to, wanting to, going to, we just don’t have people who are doing it.—Tyler Edwards

1. Matthew 6:33 CEB
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JESUS HAD TO COME HERE TO LEARN THROUGH THIS LIFE'S EXPERIENCES, AND THE SAME IS TRUE OF US!

"Though Jesus was a Son, yet learned He obedience through the things which He suffered" (Heb.5:8). Why did He have to learn? Wasn't He God? Didn't He know everything? He said, "I only know what the Heavenly Father shows Me" (Jn.5:19,20).

And the main thing God was trying to show Him was how to love mankind, how to love people, how to love them enough to be willing to die for them!--To see their suffering, to have compassion on them, to want to heal their sick and save their souls, that's what Jesus learned while He was here!--Enough to be willing to choose to actually die for them, to save not only their bodies, but their immortal spirits, their souls!

And for what purpose did He have to learn these things? Just to be forgotten and left behind when He left this world? No! To take all that with Him, all that knowledge, all that experience and to thereby have a greater sympathy and love for us and be a greater help to us both now and hereafter!

If Jesus could learn obedience to the Father through the things which He suffered here on Earth in human form, how much more are we here to learn?



Activated TFI "Have a Very Happy New Year! Love You!!"