Pastor's Thoughts
New Year's Encouragement
“When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:8
What did you get for Christmas? Was it something you really wanted? Was it something you really needed? Was it something that will make you happy for a long time?
What did you give for Christmas? Did your gifts reflect your love to those who received them? Did you give more than you received? Did your gifts make those who received them happy?
And what did you get from God this Christmas? God gave you something you really needed. God sent his one and only Son into this world to be your Savior. Because of Jesus, God can now give you mercy rather than anger, God can now give you forgiveness instead of justice, God can now give you love rather than hatred, God can now give you heaven instead of hell. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Ponder anew, dear Christian friend, the greatness of God’s love and the greatness of the gift he has given to you in Jesus. This is one gift that truly will make you happy for a long time.
And what did you give to God this Christmas? Look at the words of God’s prophet Malachi and you will see what the nation of Israel gave to God in response to his goodness and love. Why was God not pleased? The gifts given by those who claimed to love him expressed how little God really meant to them.
And what will you give to God this new year? Will your gifts express the faith and the love you have for him as your heavenly Father? Will the worship and devotion you give to him be expressions of love or indifference? Yes, it is true. Your life and your sacrifices for God do not help you get to heaven. God’s gift of Jesus has opened the door of heaven to you freely and with no cost to you. But it is also true that your life and sacrifices for God will be your response to God’s greatest gift of love. Your life and sacrifices for God will reflect how much you love him.
And what will you give to God this new year? Blind, crippled, and diseased offerings? God keep you from such unworthy gifts! Rather, rejoicing in God’s free gift of salvation, may you return to God the very best that your heart and life can offer. Here is what God deserves and here is what I pray you will give to God in this new year:
First place in your heart!
First place in your worship!
First place in your offerings!
First place in your life!
May God help you meet this new year encouragement and give you a truly happy new year.