A New Year; A New Day, Is Dawning

Psalm 139:9-10

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jer 29:11 KJV)

I believe that God has a plan. Humankind also seems to have a plan and the powers that be don't always seem to have a very good plan for us. It does not really matter in the larger scheme of things. 

No matter what we think about the hand that we were dealt in 2020 we do not have to continue to live in the darkness nor the isolation that the past year so many people experienced. Go and stretch your wings. Every day in Christ is a new day. Every day in Christ is an opportunity to live life! 

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor 5:17)

Yesterday is gone. We cannot get it back. But, we can begin again this day and tomorrow and the day after. Step out of the darkness and live in his marvelous light.  Darkness is death and life is the light of Christ. As a new year dawns live life according to the good and gracious plan of God!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Help Them!

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Phil 2:3-4 KJV)

I often hear that we have to take care of ourselves first to justify not helping our neighbors. We, of course, have to take care of our families' needs. They, too, are our neighbors. But, I do not think that worrying about getting all the trinkets that we desire before making sure our neighbors are eating or worrying about "keeping up with the Jones'" is any where near God's plan for humankind. 

A reminder from excerpts from the Ten Commandments and what they mean from Luther's Small Catechism:  

The Seventh Commandment

You shall not steal.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.

The Eighth Commandment

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.

The Ninth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not scheme to get our neighbor’s inheritance or house, or get it in a way which only appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.

The Tenth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not entice or force away our neighbor’s wife, workers, or animals, or turn them against him, but urge them to stay and do their duty.

We are not called just to look out for our own desires. As children of God we are called to look out for our neighbors' needs and that doesn't mean just refraining of taking what is theirs; but, helping them to keep what they have.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34)

God's Peace - Pr. J