We are told today that we come from primordial soup and that life has no intrinsic meaning or value.
 
The bible has a different view. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We are made in the image of God. That means that it is his attributes that determine our own.

Did you know that God is a doer? God is a worker. He created the heavens and the earth and is in the process of reconciling all creation to himself. This means that we are called to do as well. Not only that, but we are invited into the task of reconciling and renewing God's creation. The best bit? God planned every step we will ever take in advance. All we need to do is trust Him and walk daily with Him and our lives matter.

Are you living in the freedom and victory that is yours in Christ?

In Ephesians 1:19-21 the apostle Paul writes about "The immeasurable greatness of [God's] power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."

Jesus, after his death and resurrection, was given authority over everything. Everything! And that same power is directed toward us as believers. Let that sink in! Whatever God has called you to today, go forth in the knowledge that Jesus has authority over everything. EVERYTHING! 

Following Christ can be a bit of a paradox...

When we choose to follow Christ, we are choosing not to follow ourselves. We have desires that may or may not come from God and we need to filter them through the Word of God and to come to Jesus to discern whether they are helpful or not.

We are called to die daily, to carry our cross. That's what it means to follow Jesus. It says in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." We follow his example by dying daily so that we can live with him both today and forever.

Did you know that the word 'gospel,' literally means 'good news'?

In Ancient Rome, when something good happened, it was proclaimed widely as 'good news.' The writers of the New Testament took this idea and ran with it. They had experienced what it meant to be saved from their selfish, sinful nature, being promised a new life in the days ahead and beyond death. Therefore, Paul writes in Romans 1:16a, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."

We ought to spread the gospel everywhere we go, in word and in deed. It truly is good news. If you've experienced it in your own life, I encourage you to ask God to whom and how He would like you to share the good news. 

Did you know that heaven is not just a place?

Heaven is the place where God lives. It is not just a destination. It is paradise because God is there, not merely because of its natural beauty.

In eternity we will not go to heaven as such, but heaven will come to earth and we will be with God forever. That's why it is so important to develop a relationship with God now. As eternity is in a way an extension of this life, your relationship with God carries on. You cannot have no relationship with Him now and hope to start one later!

In John 7:37b, Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” He wants to lead us, guide us, and care for us now. Do you come to Him daily for a drink that will never run dry?

Are you tired and weary? Are you facing challenges that seem insurmountable?

To the people of Israel in a time of exile, Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” It is important that we listen to the voice of God over and above every other voice that seeks our attention.

When we wait for the Lord, He promises to give us renewed strength and to lift us up above to a place where we can gain His perspective. It's about trusting in God and waiting for Him to act on our behalf. When we put God first, we will be able to run with renewed vigour and to walk with Him for the rest of our lives.

Do you want to live differently this year?

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

This year can be a year of change and of seeing God's power at work in your life! You may feel like the world is strong, but God is stronger. Society changes, but God does not. Civilisations rise and fall, but God has a plan for His creation that is lasting and will go on forever.

By reading His Word, the bible, and by submitting to God through prayer and the desire to obey His Spirit, you can have your mind transformed this year. It will result in a life of power by the Spirit and alignment with God's will for your life and for His creation.

Who or what are you going to serve this year?

Romans 12:1b (NKJV) says, "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."  Some people think of Christianity as a religion of choice. But as we demonstrated last year through our Take Time to Think series, being a Christian is a sane, logical and reasonable decision. But it also has implications for your whole life, not just your mind.

The ESV calls being a Christian by offering your life to God as a living sacrifice, "your spiritual worship." If you are truly submitted to the Word of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, you will see transformation in every area of your life, whether physical, emotional, spiritual, or in your daily vocation.

The key is a life sacrificed to God. As Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Have you ever wondered why Jesus came to earth and how his life changed everything for us?

In Luke 9 we read that Peter, James and John went up the mountain with Jesus. While there, Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus about what He was soon to accomplish. Moses represents the law, while Elijah represents the prophets. These were the two key institutions that mediated the relationship between God and the people. Jesus was about to fulfill them both. And in verse 35, “And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!'” 

No longer do we rely upon the law, the priesthood, and the prophets. Today we relate directly with God through Jesus and rely upon the Holy Spirit as well as the Word for guidance. Christmas made it all possible. Now, that's a great reason to celebrate!

Have you ever wondered what the biblical covenants are all about?

In the Old Testament, God made covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David. These covenants were essentially promises by God, which were sealed and agreed by their recipients. Although no human has ever fully kept God's laws or covenants, He is faithful. And God promised that ultimately, there would be a new covenant. This covenant was established by Jesus, who was both God and Man.

What can we learn from this? We see that God is faithful. 1 Timothy 2:11-13, "The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself." 

No matter what we do or do not do, God is always worthy of our faith and trust. Ultimately, it is His plans that will come to pass and by putting our faith in Jesus, we are covered by the new covenant which fulfils the promises of all of the other previous covenants. Is your faith in God today?

They say that in the Old Testament is Jesus concealed but in the New revealed.

Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." God made creation and put people in charge of the Garden of Eden. When they failed, God promised that a Saviour would eventually come to reconcile creation back to Himself.

Genesis 3:14-15, "The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." 

God knows the end from the beginning. He had a plan to send Jesus 2000 years ago and He has a plan to send Him again soon. Take courage and have peace as you remember Jesus in the lead up to Christmas. He has all things under control!

Ever since Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, people have wrestled with this question.

God said to Adam and Eve that they could eat from the any of the trees in the garden except for one. Genesis 2:16-17, "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Then the serpent cast doubt upon God's Word. Genesis 3:1b, "He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”"

It is the perpetual tendency of people to doubt God's Word and to choose another way. We were told that humanism would save us, but it did not. We are told that technology will save us. But while knowledge, science and technology are not inherently evil, if we put our trust in them, we are in effect repeating the Garden of Eden.

God wants us to trust in Him wholeheartedly. It is He who has saved us, is saving us and will ultimately save us.

Jesus said that the truth will set you free. Pilate said to Jesus, 'What is truth?'

When Jesus said that the truth will set you free, what was He talking about? Was he saying that if you know all about what is fact rather than fiction, then you will be at liberty? No, Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Jesus said that the truth was not a series of facts, but a person. He said that if we know Him, then we can be set free.

What are you focused upon today, knowledge about God or knowing Him? Knowing about the truth is good, but only knowing Him will set you free!

When I was young there was a band with an album title, 'It's Later Than It's Ever Been.'
 
In Revelation 22:12 Jesus said, "Behold, I am coming soon." With lifespans of typically less than 100 years, we may look at the past 2000 years and think that if he hasn't come yet, then surely he's either not coming back or it could still be a long way off.

In Egypt the Israelites could have been forgiven for feeling like they'd been forgotten. Then, after 400 years or so, Moses led them out by God's mighty hand into the promised land.

Revelation 22:13 says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Time is in God's hands. It's later than it's ever been and that means that we are closer than ever before! He's coming back, and soon! Are you ready?

James 5:16 says that "The prayer of a righteous person has great power." So, are you praying?

The final verses of the book of James are about prayer. Who should pray? Verse 13 - the suffering; verse 14 - the sick; verse 16 - those who confess their sins. You may feel that your prayer has no power, but James says that the prayers of the righteous have great power. He gives the example of Elijah who "was a man with a nature like ours." 

Your righteousness does not come from yourself, but from Jesus! That's great news, isn't it? Elijah was able to see a miracle happen through fervent prayer and we are called to also pray fervently.

So, are you praying?

One common excuse that people give for delaying making a commitment to God is that they're not good enough yet. The good news is that none of us are!

Hebrews 11 lists a number of people who are considered by the author to be people of faith. Hebrews 12:1 calls them our 'cloud of witnesses.' Witnesses to what? Witnesses to their own abilities or perfection? Definitely not! If you look into each of these characters you will find that they made mistakes or had some sort of weakness. Abraham continually trusted in his own folly rather than in God, but he was recognised as a man of faith. David was a murderer and an adulterer. Gideon was told to fight with only 300 men!

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 that God said, ""My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." These witnesses testify to us that God can and will use anyone. What great news for us!

Philippians 2:5 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." What mind is Paul talking about?

Jesus was with God in the beginning and through Him all things were made (John 1:1-3). Yet, Jesus chose to be born as a baby in a manger. Though He was King, He humbled Himself and even died a sinner's death on our behalf.

Matthew 16:24, "Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." What does it mean to take up one's cross? It means being willing to die for God. That sounds hard enough, but living for God with this attitude can be even more difficult. It means having the same mind and attitude as Jesus when hard times come our way. He kept His mouth closed when He was berated. Do we do that? He willingly went through torture and suffering. What about you? The good news is that death was not the end.

Philippians 2:9, "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name." 

The same pattern applies for us. Like a J, life as a Christian has moments of dying to ourselves before we rise again. While things may get worse for a time, resurrection is coming. That's where we find as in Romans 8:28, "For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

James 1:2, "Count it all joy, my brothers [and sisters], when you meet trials of various kinds." Do you tend to get happier when things get worse?

It has become increasingly popular over the past few decades to spend time in the gym. Why? To strengthen one's muscles. Is it merely for aesthetics? Sometimes, yes. But did you know that scientific research shows that resistance training is one of the leading ways of staying healthy in old age? So it is in the Christian life. If we want longevity of our faith, we need to go through the hard, testing times. Our faith muscle atrophies when it is not utilised - not only at a level it can handle, but at harder and harder levels as time goes on.

Verses 3-4 says, "for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

That may sound impossible, but Jesus told us that not only in rest are we to be yoked to him, but in work as well. Matthew 11:29-30, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart... For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Here's the point. We need hard times to strengthen us, but God wants us to allow Jesus to help us do the heavy lifting! So, come to him in prayer today and bring all of your problems before him.

1 Peter 5:6-7, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

We all want to be effective. Many of us have answered Jesus' call to 'follow me.' But what has he been saying to you since then?

Jesus says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." John 15:4 

To abide means to 'continue without fading' or 'to remain.' While it is important to know about God, the danger of having a solely intellectual faith is all too real. We can end up knowing all about God without actually knowing Him.

Imagine being in a war but never hearing from your commanding officer, or being in a company but never listening to your boss. So it is with God, who has great plans for us. Today, will you answer the call to abide in Him that in turn you would bear much fruit?

Faith is a muscle that is easily employed when things seem to be going well. But what about when the going gets tough?

That's when faith really needs to be exercised. God had made an incredible promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:4, "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations." Abraham was almost a hundred and his wife Sarah was not far behind, yet Abraham believed the Lord, [who] counted it to him as righteousness (Gen 15:6). We often have faith when we believe that God has spoken, even when the dream seems to be so big only God could achieve it. Finally, Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah. Yet when the testing comes, that's when faith is really required. In Genesis 22:2, "[God] said, 'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.'" Abraham obeyed and as he was ready to slaughter the son of promise, God intervened and provided a substitute, a ram caught in the thickets nearby.

Whatever your God-given dream may be, even when it seems that you are being led into despair or destruction, if God is with you then He will bring it to pass. Trust Him for as He promises through David's words in Psalm 23, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." And in Habakkuk 2:4, "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."

Psalm 2 describes the futile attempts of the enemies of God to silence his people. We saw just over a week ago an attempt by the enemy to silence God's people through the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Charlie advocated for the necessity of dialogue in an increasingly polarised political environment. In the face of oppressive ideologies, he showed love toward those who disagreed with him, always being willing to hear them out. Just like when Jesus was murdered for His faithfulness to God, death was not the end. He rose again in power and now "He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision."

Already there are numerous stories of people seeking out authentic faith and joining church communities as a result of the attack on Charlie. God's Kingdom often expands in the face of blatant opposition and overt oppression. We can take solace in the words of the psalmist, for though "the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and His anointed... He will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 'As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill...' Blessed are all who take refuge in Him."

We often refer to the bible as 'The Word of God,' or 'God's manual for life.' But did you know that it is first and foremost a story? It starts, like good stories often do, in the beginning. And its final chapter ends with a cliffhanger. It's in one sense the end of the story and in another it leaves room for a sequel - the return of the king!

The bible is God's Word to us, His Story, written by dozens of individuals over approximately 1500 years. It is remarkably consistent given its incredible range over different cultures and varying literary genres. It really is God's Story and outside of space and time, He knows the end from the beginning.

Even the very first moments of human failure therefore contain evidence of God's redemptive plan for humanity. In Genesis 3:15, God foretells of the coming Saviour, Jesus, who will one day defeat the enemy and conquer evil, once and for all.

Jesus came 2000 years ago and the world was irreversibly changed. Now, we spread the word of the Kingdom's reign and the good news that Jesus is coming back soon. In Revelation 22:20 Jesus says, "Surely I am coming soon." 

May God bless you today as you seek to live as a faithful character in the middle of the best story ever written!