We stand anxiously at the threshold of this new year ahead in 2013, thankful for the year behind us which has been a gift no matter the struggles we've endured.
This means that
anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a
new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17
For most, a new year means a fresh
start - new resolutions, new dreams, new hopes, new promises, and perhaps the hope to destroy the bad habits we've made the past year. In some we may succeed, in some we may fail.
Let us all be reminded as we ring in the new year that we are here to worship a God who ALWAYS delivers on His word unlike us. Through Christ, God has promised us fresh renewal, and the freedom from the grasp of sin - most importantly eternal salvation!
Just as everyone dies
because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new
life. 1 Cor 15:22
As we enter into this new year,
I pray that our view toward worship, not just in song or during Sunday service, but in the way we live our lives everyday brings us to a new journey and new territory. My prayer is that we put off our old self (Eph 4:22) and put on our new nature given to us through the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ!
How does this apply in worship?
Freedom!
Freedom to rejoice!
Freedom to sing His praise!
Freedom to celebrate!
Freedom to redirect the purpose of worship from ourselves to GOD where it belongs!
Freedom to bring a new offering of worship to our Savior and come to his feet!
Freedom to come as you are! Everyone and clap your hands - shout to God with joyful praise! Ps 47:1
Life if full of unknowns - some challenging, exciting, scary, uncertain, hopeful, beautiful, and adventurous to name a few - however one need always remains - the need of assurance and security. Praise God we have this blessed assurance in Christ! That is most definitely something to rejoice about!
Since you have been
raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. I want to know
Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to
suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or
another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Colossians 3:1
This Sunday we we position ourselves for a new year, it is a time to recommit and center ourselves in the
faithful hands of God and stand firmly on the Cornerstone and His promises!
The symbolism of bringing in a new year provides hope and the gift of a new start:
A new start that is God-willed, not self-willed
A new start as we renew our mind to let us see God not only in the big picture, but also always in the details.
A new start to love one another better and bigger than ever before.
A new start to be transformed by the power of God in our hearts and reach the world with the Light shining through us!
A new start to transfer our strength to His strength!
A new start and an increased level of new hope.
A new heart...
It wont be quick and it won’t be easy or painless. Surely joy and love will abound. God is the author if this grand story we call life even when the words are sometimes hard to understand - we press on.
While we live in
these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and
get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new
bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 2 Corinthians 5:4
This is a time of new promises, dreams, and hope. If you feel squashed, beaten down, hopeless,
despair – the story doesn’t have to end there and in Christ it doesn't end there! Where you’ve been doesn’t dictate where you’re
going - for God is making all things new! His promises are trustworthy and true!
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. Revelation 21:1-7
IMAGINE.... we will all be worshiping God together someday soon with all the angels and choirs of Heaven! You, and me and our brothers and sisters that have been raised in a new life with Christ will be singing praises in one collective voice!
What does that mean for us now? "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven"!
My prayer is that we can reignite how we worship (in song, in our time in the Word, and in our daily life) to constantly recognize and honor
the holiness and righteousness of God in a sacrificial humble way,
whether we feel like it or not. Worship is not about us - but an offering and commandment to the Most High!
Let us CELEBRATE this New Year with a NEW offering of our hearts!
Many blessings to you this coming year. It is an honor to be doing life with you!
