New Beginnings

Acts 20:24 – However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. (NIV)

I remember at the beginning of a New Year, we used to sing "Standing at the portal of the opening year." Well, I never thought I would reach this one: the opening of the year 2000! Wow! I made it. Praise the Lord!!!

As we open this year, to me it is something special and very different. I can't help but think back over the past one hundred years and all the things that have been invented and the speed with which they came. I am not going to go through all these things; they are too numerous. We have come a long way and we didn't do it alone. A lot of people think that man did it by himself. Yet this is not so. God had it all planned before the beginning of time. He has let us come thus far, but it makes me wonder for how long.

How long! How far! How far and how long will He put up with our thinking, acting and doing things our way? We in the Christian family know He has a plan that He will put into action, in His own timing.

What does the time ahead hold for us?

The road ahead may be a rough one; we need to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). We have, I believe, drifted far from the way of the Lord. We who live in Christ need not fear, though, for He will sustain us. He promised never to leave or forsake us. We must hold to that truth and to His way.

Enough sounding of doom and gloom; this is the New Year — new beginnings; a new millennium. Let us look to the future, as we have in the past. Let us look to the love of God, and the joy and peace that only He can give. Let us trust, obey, and walk with the Lord, for the dawn of a new era is here and we in the Lord will walk in faith — as we have in the past — to carry His word to all nations, until Jesus comes again. For He shall reign for ever and ever. Hallelujah! Amen.

Revelation 11:15 – The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.

Prayer: Almighty God, keep us in Your word, as we venture into the new millennium, for Thine is the kingdom the power and the glory. We give you thanks for everything. Be with us always, as we humble ourselves before You at the throne of Your grace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

And let God's people say: "Amen and Amen."

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