WHAT WILL 2020 BE FOR YOU?
01st Jan 2020
Happy New Year! We have started another Year. What is uppermost in your mind as you look into the future? I was thinking about this a couple of days ago and reading the letter to the Philippians where Paul, writing to his friends from prison expresses his focus for life, “To me, living means living for Christ.” (Ch 1:21 NLT)
Wow! What a simple, but direct statement of the goal of life - living for Christ. That really resonated with me, that’s what I want to be in 2020 - living for Christ. That my life might be pleasing to Him; that I will display His glory in all my words and actions; that others may see Jesus in me and want the quality of life He gives. It is very simple but profound.
As I was pondering this my phone pinged and a message came from the Philippines from a young man who is pastoring a church we support. His verse for 2020 is 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” A great verse for the new year, but very challenging when you are faced with the consequences of a typhoon which has devastated your area, and you are seeking to support those who have homes and churches wrecked.
I am reminded of a time when one of our sons was seeking a wife and being bombarded with suggestions from his siblings, but having read Derek Prince’s book, “God is a matchmaker” responded, Derek says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well,” That’s what he declared and that’s what he did, and God faithfully provided him with a wife.
Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last.” (John 15:16) Another simple but challenging directive.
So what will 2020 be for you? Living for Christ; standing firm in the faith; seeking first God’s kingdom and bearing fruit that will last?
by Charles Sibthorpe
