We bade farewell to 2024 and ushered in 2025 just a few days ago.
Wishing everyone a happy New Year! I am thankful to be given this opportunity to write the first article of Outreach for this year. Certainly, I would like to take this opportunity to share the word of God at the beginning of the year, to help us have a goal (or goals) for the year ahead.
It is a new year. Maybe it is a good time to make some new year resolutions. Simply put, a resolution means a promise to yourself to achieve something in the future. Perhaps there are some of us who would like to make their new year resolutions. Making resolutions tends to promote success in what you intend to do, because once you have a goal in mind, it will allow you to follow your thoughts, make right choices, and take the necessary actions to go in the direction to achieve your goal. The primary reason why resolutions fail is because there is no clear goal.
You might be surprised to know that even in the Bible, people made resolutions. The first Bible character that comes to mind is the prodigal son. Who could have missed what he said? We read in Luke 15:18-20, “17 But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20 “And he arose and came to his father.”
Please read Luke 15:11-32 on the parable of the prodigal son to have a clear picture. You see, the prodigal son was so hungry that he wanted to eat the things pigs were eating, just to satisfy his hunger. But of course, no man gave him even these things. The desperate son suddenly came to his senses. He remembered his father’s hired hands had more food than they could eat, but here he was going to starve to death! So, he resolved to go back to his father, “I will arise and go to my father.” Now, he made a wise decision and he had a goal, to “go to my father.” But what if he had stopped there without taking action? It would have been futile. Instead, “he arose and came to his father.” We know what happened when he returned home. He was warmly received by his father and there was a great celebration.
Suffice to add another Bible character, Daniel, for our study. Please read Daniel 1. We learned that Daniel, as a teenager, was taken to Babylon, a foreign power. He was chosen to study at the palace, but he determined in his heart to be different instead of going along with the rest of the youths. We read in Daniel 1:8, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Did he follow up with taking the necessary actions? Sure, he did. And the result? We read in Daniel 1:17, “God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” A resolution to live a holy life was pleasing to God, and God blessed Daniel and his friends.
Alright, now, what are your resolutions for the new year? Imagine what kind of impact it or they could make on you for the rest of the year. May I suggest the following for your serious consideration.
1. Read the Bible on a Regular Basis
It has been established that a good indicator of your spiritual health is your Bible- reading habit. Is it on a regular basis or in a rather haphazard manner? And what is your motive for reading the Bible?
The psalmist says, “2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:2-3). You see, the psalmist delighted himself in God’s word. He was always thinking about it (reflecting on it), and then learning how to apply it to his daily life. Brethren, don’t we want to saturate our minds with God’s word, so that we will not make wrong choices in our lives? If you don’t know God’s will, how can you do His will? You need to read the Bible to know God’s will and do this on a regular basis. The psalmist says, “In His law he meditates day and night.”
If you have not been reading the Bible on a regular basis, do you want to resolve to do so this year? If not, why not? I strongly encourage you to do so. A thousand-mile journey starts with the first small step. Having a daily Bible reading schedule would help, which you can readily get from your Bible or even the Internet. The arrangement is generally date specific. That is, on a certain day, you read a certain passage.
2. Using Your time Wisely
Let me ask you a very personal question. What have you been busy with in the past year? Did you make time for God, excluding attending services?
Paul said, “15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16). “15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (CSB). We need to be careful on how we walk. That is, how we live our lives. These wise Christians are to make use of every opportunity they come across, lest it slips away. They use their time properly and wisely. They make their time for God count while they are still able to do so. But to do what? We can demonstrate the power of the gospel on our lives to glorify God, do good works (Eph. 2:10), grow in the knowledge and grace of Christ (2 Pet. 3:18), teach the gospel to others (Col. 4:5) including your young children, attending Church services instead of doing our personal activities (Heb. 10:25), etc. The “evil days” present opportunities which are few. Don’t waste them.
We are keenly aware of what Jesus meant when He said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). There is only a limited time when we can do God’s will. A time will come to each of us where we cannot anymore do the work which God gave us to do. I must work while I can. Don’t put off what we must do. Am I doing this? There is a day where we have to give account of what we did or did not do. Paul said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). Our personal obedience or disobedience will feature prominently then.
There is no need to make so many resolutions. Start with one or two and work on it or them. Have clear goals and then set out to achieve them. May God bless you as you do His will.
Ask Yourself:
In Luke 15:1-32, in a time of desperation, what happened to the prodigal son? What did he specifically do after that? When was the last time this also happened to you?
In Daniel 1, what did Daniel and his friends do when faced with severe pressure to do as required by the king? What can you learn from this incident? Did you face a similar situation in your life?
If you have not been reading the Bible on a regular basis and/or spending your time wisely, what steps will you take to do so? What are your motives for doing so?
Suggested Answers:
The prodigal son came to his senses when he started thinking about home. He then resolved to go home and asked for forgiveness from his father for what he had done. Finally, he arose and went home.
They purposed in their hearts (i.e., resolved) not to eat the food and the wine chosen by the king as that would have defiled them. The faith of Daniel and his friends was genuine and they trusted God.
You may discuss this with your Bible class teacher or close brethren.