ADVICE FOR A NEW YEAR

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” - Hebrews 12:1

The writer of the book of Hebrews aptly refers to the Christian life as being a race. We are in a marathon. We are pressing forward, traveling daily toward our home in heaven.

When we come to the end of a year and plan for a new year, we tend to make superficial resolutions. While some of these resolutions have a valid purpose, we tend to lose motivation after the first week or two and eventually return to the rut of living like we had before.

As we enter a new year, I want to challenge myself --- and you. Here is the advice I'm giving to myself. See if these three things don't appeal to you also.

1. SPEND TIME WITH GOD DAILY

My first piece of advice is to walk with God every day. For many years, I've made it a habit to read from the Bible daily. Sometimes when I speak at another church, I'll ask people in the congregation to raise their hands if they read from the Bible every day during the past week. Few raise their hands. That is a problem. In 2019, spend time with God daily. Read from the Bible every day. Spend time in prayer each day. My suggestion is to start your day with God. This remains the greatest piece of advice for myself and everyone else for the new year. As Hebrews 12:1 indicates, we are in a race. We're on a journey. Don't walk alone. Walk with God daily.

2. TRAVEL LIGHT

Secondly, travel light. Since we are in a race, it is important to keep our load light. Heavy burdens need to be removed. A load of guilt needs to be rolled away. Forgiveness needs to be given and received. Too many pilgrims are loaded down with unnecessary burdens. Take your burdens to the Lord and let Him lift them from you. Notice in our text that the Bible says, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” There is a difference between “sin” and a “weight.” While sin certainly weighs us down, there are other things that may not necessarily be sinful, but still weigh us down. Examine your life. There may be things that are hindering your spiritual progress. An athlete will wear light clothing when he runs. Spiritually, we should do the same. Travel light.

3. KEEP MOVING ALONG

Finally, keep moving along. As our text indicates, we are in a race. Keep pressing forward. It is tempting to quit at times. Some, for instance, quit going to church. Others have quit serving. Some have quit giving. This is not a time for quitting. If you have quit, it is time to get back at work. Return to church. Start serving again. Keep moving. I must confess that, physically, I need to get more active in the year to come. Spiritually, we should all be active. We have been created to do “good works,” (see Ephesians 2:10). I am reminded of an old Stamps-Baxter song that simply said, “Keep moving along the Gospel way.” That is good advice for the new year.

I am not promising that 2019 will be a fun year. It may be … then again, it may not be. I am not a prophet. I do believe that we are closer to the finish line than ever before. As we near the end, let us finish well. Each day, walk with God, travel light and keep moving forward.

That's my advice for the new year.

A HOLY DAY --- NOT A HOLIDAY

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

- Luke 2:11

It is strange how far things go astray in our culture. For many years, December 25^th has been set aside as a time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. In the later part of the 20^th century, the fictitious character of Santa Claus was created as a focal point of the holiday. Slowly, the emphasis of Christmas shifted from Jesus to this fictional character. Furthermore, Christmas has become a time for retailers to make a lot of money from well-meaning consumers. Each Christmas, Americans spend an enormous amount of money purchasing Christmas gifts for family members and friends.

Here's my question: haven't we missed the point? Everyone gets a Christmas gift at Christmas except for the One who is having the birthday. While it is not wrong to give gifts to those you love, shouldn't we be dedicating Christmas to the birthday of Jesus? If giving to loved ones is so important, why are we only giving gifts once every year?

It is easy to say that we are keeping Christ in Christmas, but are we really doing that? American Christians tend to treat Christmas like the unbelievers do. Sadly, many professing believers go deeply in debt to purchase gifts for everyone EXCEPT the One whose birthday we are supposed to be observing.

In all honesty, we do not know that Jesus was born on December 25^th. Whether or not He was born on that exact date, we do know that His birth was a major event. When Jesus was born, hope was provided to sinful mankind.

The birth of Jesus was treated as a holy event. Angels proclaimed His arrival. Shepherds came to behold the newborn. Later, wise men would arrive, giving Him gifts. Yes, gifts were given … to Jesus.

It is time for all Christians to sit back and evaluate our approach to Christmas. I know it may seem extreme, but shouldn't we be focused on the Son of God instead of contributing to the pagan rituals that have taken over Christmas?

Here are just a few suggestions to consider:

1. WORSHIP JESUS ON CHRISTMAS

When the wise men saw the baby Jesus, they knelt before Him and worshiped. Shouldn't we do the same? If your local church has services on Christmas Day, take your family to church and worship the King. If your church does not have services, spend time worshiping Him in your own home.

2. READ THE BIBLE

Instead of reading “The Night Before Christmas,” to your kids, read the Biblical account of Jesus' birth. Share the truth with your family instead of fiction. Expose your children and grandchildren to the reason for this season.

3. HELP THOSE IN NEED

During the Christmas season, focus on giving to the needy in Jesus' Name. Traditionally, people give only to family members at Christmas. Be different. Give of your time, talents and treasures to those in need. Learn from the ministry of Jesus and serve those who can't repay you.

I know this may sound like an attempt to sound modest, but I just want to be honest with you. Receiving Christmas gifts is no longer a big deal for me. I have already received the greatest Christmas gift of all --- Jesus, my Lord. His birth was a gift to me. His life was a gift. His death upon the cross paid for my salvation. His resurrection guarantees that my sin debt is paid in full. What can be a greater gift than Jesus?

If you want to share something wonderful with your family on Christmas, share Jesus with them.

Sadly, Christ is no longer welcome as people “celebrate” on Christmas. Americans have taken Christ out of Christmas. How foolish!

Christmas is a holy day, not a holiday.

GENEROSITY

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” - Acts 20:35

The holiday season is a time for giving. Television and radio commercials target consumers with gift-giving ideas. Mail boxes are filled with unsolicited mail from mail-order businesses, enticing us to purchase from them. Then there are non-profit organizations that concentrate on fund raising during this season of giving.

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give then to receive.” Ironically, this verse is not recorded in the four Gospels, but quoted by Paul in the book of Acts. We tend to quote this verse, especially at this time of year. But do you know that giving is not meant to be a once-a-year event? As Christians, we are called to be generous people.

Sadly, some of the stingiest people on earth are professing Christians. We claim to be recipients of grace, but tend to show so little grace to others. God has lavishly poured out His grace upon us. He has been, and continues to be, very generous with us. Why, then, aren't we more generous? If there is one group of people on earth that is generous, it should be Christians. But instead, Christians give the very least required, whether at church or a tip at a restaurant. We need to be generous people. The holidays are a good time to be generous, but why should it be the only time?

Let me make something perfectly clear. Generosity has less to do with money than it does your heart. You don't have to have money to be generous, you just need to have a generous heart. When the widow cast her two mites into the treasury, Jesus commended her generosity. Two mites probably didn't seem like much to the disciples, but Jesus knew that she was giving all she had. Jesus knew she was a generous woman.

Generosity comes from a loving, grateful heart. Stinginess is a reflection of an uncaring, ungrateful heart. Which really describes you?

Many try manipulation tactics to motivate people to give. I am strongly opposed to manipulation, either by a pastor or TV “minister.” Furthermore, a Christian shouldn't need to be motivated externally, he should have an internal motivation to give.

Generosity covers a broader area than just money. Generosity includes giving yourself to others. When Peter and John were going to the temple at the hour of prayer, they encountered a lame man who was begging for a financial gift. Peter looked at the man and said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” The lame man was seeking money but ended up receiving more than money could buy, all because of two generous Christians.

Our Lord modeled generosity to us. Paul wrote, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” Jesus gave freely of His time for the needy around Him. He washed His disciples feet as a servant would. He gave His life freely for us upon the cross --- the ultimate gift of all.

Now we are called to emulate our Lord. We should be generous people, caring for those around us in a very tangible way. John wrote, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

We should be generous people, simply because of love and gratitude. But there is a promise from our Lord, “It is more blessed to give then to receive.” We are blessed ourselves when we bless others through our generosity. Sometimes that blessing comes to us here on earth. Also, I believe there are blessings awaiting us in heaven because of our giving.

Whether you are giving of your time, talents or treasures, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Live with a loving heart and open hands. If your hands are open to give to others, they are also open to receive from the Lord.

We are stewards of the items God has entrusted us with. Invest your life in the things that matter most. Don't be selfish and try to hoard everything for your private, selfish pleasure. A water supply must be kept fresh so that it will be fit to drink. In order for a water supply to be kept fresh, water must be used and then replaced with fresh, clean, treated water on a regular basis. The same is true of our lives. If we wish to live fresh, revived lives, we must give of what we have so that we may be replenished.

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

GOING DEEPER

“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” - Luke 5:4

When Simon was instructed to “launch out into the deep,” it seemed like a ridiculous command. He had fished unsuccessfully all night. The Lord's command seemed to be foolish. Yet Simon responded, “nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” We should have as much sense as Simon. When the Lord gives a command, it is our job to obey. It is His job to supply the need. Simon obeyed Jesus and had an abundance of fish to show for it.

Far too often, we tend to quit when times get tough. When results don't measure up to expectations, we tend to get discouraged quickly.  Too many Christians are floating around in the shallows. Others have hung up their nets. It is time for all believers to get the nets in the water and launch out into the deep.

Leaving the safety of shallow waters is unnerving at times. When we have little or no fish to show for a long time of fishing, the deep waters can be intimidating. However, most fish are in the deep waters.

It is wrong to expect your nets to be full if you simply float along in the shallow water. Yet that is the condition of most Christians. Empty nets bring discouragement.

Simon fished for a living. He was a professional. He would have been considered an expert. Yet even an expert needs the Lord. Jesus knows more about your occupation than you do. He is omniscient. He knows how to fill your nets.

It all begins with His Word. Simon said, “nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” We tend to heed the advice of society, philosophers, and self-help gurus rather than simply obeying God's Word. Whether God's Word seems practical or feasible is not the issue. It is our job to believe His Word and obey it. God will take care of the rest.

Going deeper requires three things.

1. A MATTER OF TRUTH

First of all, it requires a matter of truth. We will either go deep in the truth or hang up our nets. Jesus said to the Father, “thy word is truth.” We go deeper when we quit following the world and start obeying the Word. It is time we get serious about the Bible. It is time we believe God's Word completely and obey His Word explicitly. Obeying God's Word will require us to leave the safety of shallow waters.

2. A MATTER OF TRUST

Secondly, it requires a matter of trust. When the Lord says to launch out into the deep, we should trust Him enough to do what He says. It is easy to tell an unbeliever to trust the Lord, but do we trust Him ourselves? Do we trust Him enough to obey Him, even when it is difficult or uncomfortable to do so?

3. A MATTER OF TIME

Finally, it requires a matter of time. Simon had quit fishing. He was washing his nets. Yet when Jesus told him to launch into the deep, the washing job was over. It was time to get the nets back in place and get to work. Time is a precious commodity. Walking with God requires time. Most Christians have their schedule so full that there is no time for Jesus. What a tragedy! Simon took time to hear and heed the Master. If your schedule is too full for spiritual devotions, your schedule is too full. Clean out room in your schedule for Jesus. If you don't, you'll soon find yourself either aimlessly floating in the shallows or cleaning your nets.

We have too many shallow Christians these days. Even worse, we have some who feel like quitting. They are cleaning their nets, thinking that it is all in vain.

Perhaps our problem has been that we've been fishing on our own. We've been living and working according to our plans, rather than seeking the Lord's will. Maybe we've been laboring in our own strength, rather than His. Regardless of the case, get the nets back in service. Set sail once again. Leave the shallows and launch out in the waters according to the Word of the Lord.

It is time that we go deeper.

MOVED WITH COMPASSION

"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” - Matthew 9:36

On more than occasion, the Bible states that Jesus was moved with compassion. Jesus was moved with compassion as He saw multitudes who needed spiritual leadership. On another occasion, He had compassion as saw great human suffering and healed the sick. Yet again, He was moved with compassion for just one man as He healed a leper.

What has happened to the Church's compassion? When was the last time you were moved with compassion? If we claim to be Christians, shouldn't we be growing more and more like Him? These days, professing Christians would rather argue over political views rather than minister to others. 

The greatest commandment is to love God, and the second greatest commandment is to love others as yourself. Let me say candidly that American Christians are failing miserably at both.

I am convinced that if Jesus were walking the streets of America, He wouldn't waste His time by going to Capitol Hill or Wall Street. I am convinced He would minister among the homeless, children's hospitals and the local mission hall. During His earthly ministry, Jesus had a heart for people, especially those that society had rejected. Society shunned the lepers, but Jesus ministered to them. Society was heartless toward the disabled, but Jesus healed them. Society rejected those who had publicly sinned, but Jesus offered grace and mercy to repentant souls.

As we get closer to Christmas, Americans tend to focus on giving, but is our giving really where it needs to be? Are we simply giving gifts to family members who have little need, while overlooking the desperate need of hurting souls around us?

Once Jesus told a story about a man who was traveling to Jericho. While He was traveling, he was robbed, beaten and left for dead. In Jesus' story, religious leaders passed by this suffering man. They saw his anguish. They witnessed his plight. They knew his condition. Yet in spite of all of this, they chose to pass him by. Perhaps they felt their schedule was too full. Maybe they judged the situation and wrongly assumed the man had received what he deserved. More than likely, they didn't want to get their hands dirty and commit to helping the man. Does that sound like you?

As Jesus continued the story, He said that a Samaritan came and saw the man. The Samaritan had compassion on the suffering man. He reached out to this victim, treated his wounds and brought him to a nearby hotel where he could get better. The Samaritan paid for the man's room. Keep in mind that when Jesus told this story, his listeners despised Samaritans. No doubt they respect for a Levite and a priest, but in Jesus' story, these men did not show any mercy.

The message of the story is clear. It isn't a religious title or position that matters. How you treat people really matters, especially those who are suffering.

We are living in a hurting world. People don't need to know our political views. They need the Gospel message that we know so well. Furthermore, many of them need our mercy and compassion. We tend to be too judgmental and cold towards those who are suffering. Perhaps they've made bad choices. Maybe they've failed miserably. It could be they have done evil things.  Keep in mind that Jesus had compassion on you … and you weren't deserving. You had failed. You had sinned personally against Him. You had mistreated Him. Yet He saw you suffering and had compassion on You. He saved you. He changed you. Since you have been a recipient of such amazing grace, He challenges you to be an agent of His grace each day.

It is time that we ask God for vision. Ask Him to give us eyes to see things as He sees them. Ask Him to give us a heart for the things He cares most about. I believe if we saw people as He sees them, we wouldn't label them as Democrats or Republicans. We wouldn't view them as worthy or unworthy. Instead, we'd see these people as precious souls, in desperate need of Jesus and His love.

We need to be moved with compassion ourselves.