II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Lamentations 3:22-23
It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Happy 2023! What a tremendous blessing; to experience the favor of God as we welcome a new year. I cannot speak for you, but 2022 was a blessed time for me and the membership of Holiness Tabernacle. My health is good, we were blessed to purchase property for our new home. We received land use approval to build the Lord a house of worship. There is more. The Lord granted several of us travelling mercy as many travelled to Kenya, the Dominican Republic, and I even visited Israel and walked in the steps of our Savior. God certainly smiled upon us.
However, I am aware that some may not have had a particularly pleasant 2022. Perhaps you experienced death, or loss of employment. Perhaps you had medical or family issues. Perhaps you find yourself distanced from friends, loved ones or the Lord. I have good news – you can make a brand-new start.
I was speaking with someone recently and they expressed great joy in flipping the calendar from 2022 to 2023. They stated that they had such a tough time last year that they could not wait for the year to change. I shared with them that that is one of many great things about being a believer and follower of Jesus Christ – we can make a brand-new start.
The Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian Church was upbeat and encouraging. After chastising them in his first epistle to them, he uses the pen to build them up. He was explaining to them that even though our earthly bodies will decay and breakdown, we have another body to look forward to inheriting: a house not made of human hands. He continues to say that we are to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ. It does not matter if we have made mistakes in the past; if we are in Jesus, we are brand new creatures. Just as we will receive new bodies in heaven, we receive a brand-new spirit when we are born-again in Christ on earth.
I felt a need to include the Prophet Jeremiah’s writing. Did you know that you don’t have to wait until you die to get a new start? You don’t have to wait until January 1st, to start afresh? You don’t have to receive Jesus Christ repeatedly to walk in his newness? Jeremiah lets us know that we have brand-new mercy and grace every morning. Therefore, everyday God gives us opportunity for a brand-new start! I don’t know about you, but I am forever grateful for the wisdom and resources of the Almighty God!
Let’s start this year, month, week, day, off right. Let’s put on the newness of Jesus Christ!
I bless you in the name of the Lord!