Resolve to Be Content in the New Year

 

 

Jonathan Santiago cbn.com

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Tim 6:6 NKJV

January 1st is the day for many that self-improvement resolutions are made. Most will be financial, business, or personal fitness goals.

There is nothing wrong with any of that.

In fact, Proverbs 21:5 states that the plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty.

Yet as children of the King we should be cautious of the motivation behind any resolutions we might make. Are our goals generated from a state of discontentment?

To say “I won’t be content until this happens” means God is not enough for us now. And if God is not enough now, it means we’ll be striving to accomplish that resolution by our own strength.

Paul says, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Phil 4:11 NKJV

Paul knew who he was. Paul was aware of his identity as a child of the King. When we say to ourselves, “I’m lacking”, or “I’m insufficient in my current state”, then we are living below our privileges. The prodigal son left his father’s estate to work by his own strength. That didn’t turn out well. The other son stayed, but lived below his privileges because he was waiting on something he already had access to.

Remember, godliness with contentment is great gain. Unlike the riches of the world, the riches of God cannot be taken away from you. When we are content we put ourselves in a position for God to bless us.

Once we know who we are in Christ, every resolution we set should be in Him and for Him. There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve our situation for the Glory of the Kingdom. In fact, God commissioned us to go out and do the work of His Kingdom. And when he commissioned us, he also equipped us with everything we need.

Perhaps a good practice for the start of this New Year is simply deciding to be content.

Before setting any goals or resolutions, spend some quiet time with the Father thanking him for what He has done. Thank Him for who He is, who you are, and acknowledge that He is more than enough. Regardless of your state: in debt, deployed in the military, family health issues, homeless… God is enough for you. It’s important to find that place. It may be difficult at first. It may only come through prayer and worship. But God would rather have you be complete in Him with zero resolutions than discontent in Him and hit every resolution you set.

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4

Another way to look at this scripture is that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, our desires will begin to align with his desires.

So find that special place of contentment where the Father can show you just how complete in Him you are. Delight yourself in His ways. When you do this, any goal or resolution you set will be one that God can bless!

New Year, New Beginnings

 

 

Gordon Robertson – President and CEO, CBN

The new year is a wonderful time to examine our hearts and consider our relationship with God.

Do we expect the Word of the Lord to guide us in the way forward? Are we ready for Him to do something new? Do we expect miracles and healing? Are we asking God to refine us and give us new challenges? Or have we grown complacent and settled in our ways?

We need to lay hold of the living God so that when He calls us, we’re right there in His presence and can say,

“Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:9)

A couple of years ago, after my father was treated for a stroke, I was watching over him as he slept in the hospital that night. To my amazement, he started praying in his sleep.

Over and over again, he was asking God, “What do You want me to do?”

I thought, “Dad, you just had a stroke. Isn’t it time to rest a little?” But no; he kept praying, “What do You want me to do?”

Our heart’s desire should be to hear God’s voice and go where He leads.

Zephaniah 3:9 prophesies about the Messiah, saying,

“I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.”

This happened in the Upper Room. We can worship and serve the Lord with one accord. We have the Holy Spirit, filling us with His power and presence. And God delights in us!

Zephaniah 3:17 says,

“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

May God bless you as you seek Him this year!

Get in the Glow

 

 

Karen Moore, cbn.com

He made darkness his canopy around him—the dark rain clouds of the sky. (2 Samuel 22:12 NIV)

Have you noticed how some people are just not paying attention to what’s happening today? I mean they can’t be keeping up with the news. They walk around with a sunny smile on their faces, with happy thoughts to share, as though everything in the world is just peachy. Of course, you appreciate their optimism, even envy it a bit, but you wonder how on earth they do it. Henry Nouwen wrote, “Those who keep speaking about the sun while walking under a cloudy sky are messengers of hope, the true saints of our day.”

His thought rings a bell. After all, grousing and moaning and imagining the worst can’t really motivate your spirit or inspire thoughts of a bright future. Of course, some of us would be lost without our cloudy stories to share. We appreciate the commiserating spirits around us.

So how can we change things up a bit, get a sip of whatever it is those amazing dispensers of cheer are drinking? After all, we could all use a little taste of that bright spirit to ignite our souls and get us back into the game.

Here are a couple of thoughts:

You can go to the One who is actually in control, the One who wants good things for you and the people you love. If you stop what you’re doing and spend a moment or two letting Him know how grateful you are for the good things in your life, the clouds might not seem so heavy. God loves to hear about the things He is doing right now that actually make a difference in your life, even those that make you happy. So tell Him!

You can get His help with those things that throw you for a loop and keep you wondering if He’s still there. You may be surprised to discover He hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s right there, waiting to help you shine a light on a new possibility. He’ll quickly move those clouds out of your sky so you can see Him more clearly.

It may not take as much work as you think to get through those gray days. God knows what you need, and nothing is too hard for Him to handle.

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27 NIV)

Today you could step out from under those clouds and surprise yourself with a sense of renewed optimism, an over-the-top-you-can-do-it moment. It could even bring a smile to your face. Your shift in focus and attitude may bring a little light to someone near you, and before you know it, the future may look a little brighter everywhere you turn. God holds the future in His hand, but He wants you to embrace it.

Come on, you can do it. Let your optimistic side out to play today. Let go of the gloom and get your glow on!

Gear Up with Goals

 

 

Candy Arrington, author, cbn.com

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” Proverbs 16:3 (NIV).

Most of us look forward to Christmas with joy and anticipation. Then, almost too quickly, the New Year abruptly arrives only a week later. How do you view the coming year? Do you look forward to fresh possibilities and renewed potential? Or do you cling to the familiarity of the waning year?

Whether we like it or not, time hurls us forward. The New Year stretches before us like a blank white piece of paper. Why not take advantage of the clean slate the New Year provides and set some goals to work toward? As you set goals, be willing to take steps out of your comfort zone. But remember, making the goals realistic for your age and stage of life will determine whether the goals are attainable.

Following are some areas in which to consider goal setting:

Spiritual goals – (John 15:5) Spiritual growth doesn’t just happen. Decide to devote some time and energy to jump-starting spiritual growth:

1. Read the Bible through. Even if you’ve done this before, consider doing it again. God will show you fresh truths when you dig into His Word. Read-the-Bible through guides are available from a number of sources. Here is one suggestion: CBN – Read Through the Bible in a Year

2. Get involved in a structured Bible study. There are many options. If your church doesn’t offer group Bible studies, check to see if studies are offered in your community at Christian bookstores or other churches.

3. Decide to share Jesus without fear. Make witnessing a priority.

Mental goals – (Proverbs 1:5) Challenge yourself mentally by taking steps to learn or try something new. Examples:

1. Do in-depth library or Internet research on a particular subject – a country, a religion, or historical event. Take notes on what you’ve learned.

2. Enroll in a continuing education class at a local college or tech school.

3. Get your whole family involved in learning a foreign language.

4. Volunteer to teach English as a second language.

Emotional/Relational Goals – (Colossians 3:12-13) Often we need to work on emotional issues or strained relationships, but continually avoid doing so because of the difficulties involved. Consider goals in the following areas:

1. Forgiveness – Decide to extend the gift of forgiveness for an old hurt. You’ll gain a new sense of freedom because you no longer carry a grudge.

2. Patience – Practice patience in areas where you are historically impatient.

3. Anger management – Make a conscious decision to control your anger and determine its sources.

Physical Goals – (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Following the marathon overindulgence of December, most of us need to get serious about maintaining the temple that is our body. Decide to:

1. Enroll in an exercise program and go! It’s easy to have a gym membership, but it takes discipline to actually attend and work out.

2. Deny yourself those tasty morsels that do nothing to adorn the temple. View food as fuel for the machine instead of gratification for the taste buds.

3. Have a family plan that encourages physical activity and togetherness.

No Small Thing

 

 

Pam Morrison, author, cbn.com

As Jesus looked up, He saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. Luke 21:1-2 (NIV)

Introducing the Devotion book God Calling, A.J. Russell wrote:

There is a legend that the praise for building the Cathedral of St. Sofia was not given to the Emperor Constantine but to Euphrasia, a poor widow who drew from her mattress “a wisp of straw and gave it to the oxen” that drew the marble from the ships. That was all, she did nothing more. 1

With those words, he reminds us of the phrase from Zechariah 4:10, “Who despises the day of small things?”

Well, plenty of us do.

I have often heard Christians console someone when a great setback has occurred by saying, “Ah, it’s because God has a greater plan for you.”

Or, if someone is discouraged about their present work or ministry, they will say, “I KNOW God has a bigger plan for me. I keep praying for Him to send it.”

These may seem to be harmless messages of encouragement, but is that the witness of scripture that something bigger and better is always waiting down the road for the faithful? Our Savior came to us as a poor man, not as a king. He was terribly unimpressed with the Temple and all its glitz, but deeply concerned with people, often one at a time. Why do we think our road should be paved while His was rutted, or that this necessarily brings life?

For us to think we must achieve something big in the eyes of the world in order to matter is to deny the beautiful truth of Luke 21:1-2. In a magnificent Temple complex, filled with milling worshipers, some rich, Jesus saw a widow.

The word for “saw” often means a deeper kind of seeing – knowing, perceiving, grasping.  Jesus saw this inconsequential woman, and not only His attention, but His praise adorned her – not others.

This is such an important concept. Too many of us get caught up in future and grand thinking.  “The Lord is going to give me a great ministry down the road.  Then I will matter to Him and to others.”  We may not think it just that way, but is that why our hearts can reject our daily service as only a prelude to the “real thing?”

The danger in being caught up in “someday I will do a great thing for God” is that we may miss the frequent and daily opportunities to serve Him which may make an extraordinary impact for the Kingdom.

The Lord impressed this thought upon my heart recently through a painful, 25-year-old memory. Years ago, we rescued a puppy from the woods and he became a beloved, but persistently playful pet. Always, he was “on the move.” I was aspiring to grow in my musical ability, practicing piano constantly, dreaming of being so much more than the “ordinary” piano teacher I thought I was. There was no harm in striving for excellence.  It’s just that one day, for the umpteenth time, our young dog banged my leg with his rubber chicken, inviting me to play while I was trying to memorize a difficult piece. Annoyed, I put him outside. Stray dogs engaged him to run and that day we lost him as he was hit by a car.

The Lord reminded me that my devastation was not only due to losing my pet, but also to regret because I was striving so hard to matter to somebody that I could not stop to play with the sweet dog He had put in my life. Through this wisp of a memory, He pointed to other ways I still strain to earn value. “You don’t have to perform to be loved,” I felt Him say. “You are safe. Trust Me. Let Me love you and out of the overflow, give. No matter how small your daily gifts may seem, I see them and a chorus of praise rises up over each one.”

We must remember this in our walk with Jesus. If we fix our eyes on being noticed by people, on achieving greatness, we will probably miss the multiple opportunities to minister that He puts right under our noses. It isn’t that excellence or that growth of ministries is unimportant, it’s that our Lord is one who delights in “two small coins” given in love.

The Gifts of the Magi

 

Joanie Shawhan, author, cbn.com

Some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:1-2 NLT).

The curtain had closed on another Christmas season. Shadows from my Christmas lights danced across the wall in a valiant attempt to cheer me as I faced another round of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Where are you God?

As I sought God in this unfamiliar journey through chemotherapy, he reminded me of the Magi. I wondered if the cry of my heart echoed the cries of these wise men. They left their familiar homeland and followed a star to worship the newborn king. Filled with hope, they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

As I reflected on the Magi, I wondered what gifts I could offer my King.

1. Gold — I offer that which is more precious than gold, my faith. A faith that continues to believe in the goodness of God. A faith that acknowledges Jesus as the King of Kings who reigns over the whole world including my circumstances. Even cancer. This season I honor the King by walking in faith and trusting him with my future, relying on Jesus to bring me through the cancer and chemotherapy. God is faithful. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold (1 Peter 1:7 NLT).
2. Frankincense — Frankincense was an expensive and fragrant incense offered in the worship of a deity. My fragrant offering pleasing to God is praise and worship. Even in the midst of pain, confusion and chemotherapy, he is worthy. “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased” (Revelation 4:11 NLT).
3. Myrrh — The bitter perfume of suffering foreshadowed the death of Jesus on the cross. By his death and resurrection, he rescued us from our sinful way of life and gave us access to the living God. For me, myrrh represents my altar of surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. I surrender my circumstances, hopes and dreams to the one who loves me, created me and died for me. Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne (Hebrews 12:2 NLT).

God had given me a blueprint to walk through this difficult season. I will follow in the footsteps of the Magi and offer my gifts of faith, worship and surrender to Jesus. I, too, will look past my sufferings and focus on the majesty of my savior. He is the source of my joy. A joy not dependent upon my circumstances, but a joy that comes from his presence. And like the Magi, I will rejoice with great joy.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy… they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:10-11 NKJV).

God heard my cry. Through the gifts of the Magi, he revealed himself as Emmanuel, God with us. And he is still with me.

A Christmas Prayer of Praise to the Son

 

SARAH GERINGER, crosswalk.com

“And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.” 1 John 5:20 (NLT)

On this Christmas Day, we praise You, Jesus, as the Son of God.

Before the creation of the world, You were set apart by the Father for a unique mission.
You are our Messiah, the One sent to save us.

As Immanuel, God with us, the One through whom all things were created,
You chose to lie in a manger and die on a cross for us.
You willingly laid aside your majesty to come down into our world.

By believing in You, we have the gift of eternal life.
How amazing is Your power and glory!
May we always hold You in awe as the Son of God.

We praise You, Jesus, as the Son of David.

Your birth was foretold by many prophets who never saw You with their eyes,
but received truth about You through the Holy Spirit.
The Father preserved Your birthright generation after generation.
He fulfilled His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
to give them countless descendants who would follow You.

You are the Lion of Judah, a King forever in the line of David.
Though You did not establish an earthly rule as many hoped,
You transcended those hopes with a universal kingdom to last for all time.

You are the fulfillment of countless prophecies, prayers and dreams.
May we always honor You as the Son of David.

We praise You, Jesus, as the Son of Man.

The Son of Joseph, a humble carpenter from Nazareth
who chose the path not traveled and proved himself faithful.
The Son of Mary, a young virgin of steadfast faith
who felt You turn in her womb and watched You suffer on a cross.
The Son who impressed teachers of the law
and amazed His parents even as a child.

The Son who understands our weaknesses
and faced all the tests we face yet never sinned.
The Son destined to cause many to fall and many to rise,
opposed without cause yet glorified above all.

As the Son of Man, now You are seated at God’s right hand,
offering prayers for us day and night as the Great High Priest.

You are the stairway between heaven and earth,
the only way we have access to the Father.
You are coming back on the clouds of heaven to give us eternal life.
May we always revere You as the Son of Man.

This Christmas Day, may our thoughts be fixed on You, Jesus.
May we believe in You as the only true God, the Lord over our lives.
May we trust You with all our hurts and hopes.

May we walk in fellowship with You, knowing you perfectly understand us.
May we rejoice in your birth and resurrection,
looking forward to the day when we will see You face to face.

In Your Name we pray, Amen.

Names of Christ: My Redeemer

 

Ashley Key, cbn.com

One of the names of Christ is Author and Finisher of our faith found in Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV): Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When I think of this verse, especially in the context of Christmas, I think of the great gift that Jesus was and is. He came to this earth in the most humble of circumstances, born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem. Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah that God’s people had been waiting for, for centuries. And centuries of prophecy and His life bore that out. In His life, Jesus performed miracles and wonders and taught all of those around Him how to live.

But it wasn’t until His death on the cross that all of us were saved. “It is finished” (John 19:30 NKJV), Jesus said on the cross. Jesus endured the cross so that all of us—anyone who believes—might be saved and have eternal life.

And so, in the season of giving and receiving gifts, the greatest gift we could ever receive is Jesus—the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Glory to God and Merry Christmas!

The incarnation and birth of Christ

 

Emmanuel Or God is With Us.

By: Charles Spurgeon

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2

Suggested Further Reading: Hebrews 10:5-7

“Go,” saith the Father, “and thy Father’s blessing on thy head!” Then comes the unrobing. How do angels crowd around to see the Son of God take off his robes! He laid aside his crown; he said, “My father, I am Lord over all, blessed for ever, but I will lay my crown aside, and be as mortal men are.” He strips himself of his bright vest of glory; “Father,” he says, “I will wear a robe of clay, just such as men wear.” Then he takes off all those jewels wherewith he was glorified; he lays aside his starry mantles and robes of light, to dress himself in the simple garments of the peasant of Galilee. What a solemn disrobing that must have been! And next, can you picture the dismissal! The angels attend the Saviour through the streets, until they approach the doors; when an angel cries, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors, and let the king of glory through!” I think the angels must have wept when they lost the company of Jesus—when the Sun of heaven bereaved them of all its light. But they went after him. They descended with him; and when his spirit entered into flesh, and he became a babe, he was attended by that mighty host of angels, who after they had been with him to Bethlehem’s manger, and seen him safely laid on his mother’s breast, in their journey upwards appeared to the shepherds and told them that he was born king of the Jews. The Father sent him! Contemplate that subject. Let your soul get hold of it, and in every period of his life think that he suffered what the Father willed; that every step of his life was marked with the approval of the great I AM.

For meditation: When we think of the birth of the Son of God, our eyes are rightly focused on earth. But are we in danger of forgetting God the Father in heaven, the one who so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son (John 3:16)? May we remember to give “Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:14).

Names of Christ: Ruler of Israel

 

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. (Micah 5:2 NLT)

Two thousand years ago, that Scripture by the prophet Micah came to pass when Jesus Christ was born in the little town of Bethlehem. As Micah said, even at his birth, Jesus was recognized as the ruler of Israel. In the Gospel of Matthew, it says when the wise men came here to Jerusalem, they asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2 NKJV)

In fact, the Bible is filled with promises and prophecies that Jesus will rule and reign. The prophet Isaiah wrote: For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV)

Daniel said: “To Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14 NKJV).

And in Revelation it says, Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 NLT)

The rule of Jesus is also part of the spiritual DNA of CBN. In its mission statement, it says CBN is to prepare the nations of the world for the coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His kingdom here on the earth. And this Christmas it can be part of your spiritual DNA by making Him, or recommitting yourself to Him as, Lord and Savior. We can make Jesus the Lord and the Ruler of our hearts and fulfill the purpose and plan He has for our lives. And this Christmas is a great time to do that.

Merry Christmas from the Holy Land!

Names of Christ: Alpha and Omega

 

Gordon Robertson – President and CEO, CBN

One of the names of Jesus is found in the book of Revelation—Alpha and Omega. Alpha is the beginning letter in the Greek alphabet. Omega is the final letter in the Greek alphabet.

The apostle John is describing that Jesus is both the beginning and the end, and he’s quoting Jesus in Revelation, chapter one:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8 NKJV)

Now, get the scope of what that means: Jesus was there at the very beginning, by Him and through Him all things were created. He has appeared, and specifically appeared to the children of Israel, to Abraham. There’s a wonderful passage where God comes down in bodily form and has lunch with Abraham. Then He appears in a manger, and He lives a sinless life. He dies as a sacrifice for all of us. He’s raised again from the dead. He’s returned to the Father and He sits next to the Father at the throne.

Now, do we find this in the Old Testament or is this just in the New Testament? Well, you do find it in the Old Testament. There’s a wonderful passage from Isaiah 44: “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel…” (so, it’s talking about God Almighty) “and his Redeemer.” So, there’s a second, the LORD of hosts.

“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6 NKJV)

What a wonderful description of the Trinity, the union between the Father and the Son, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, and on that breath is the Word of God. The three in one.

Let’s celebrate that wonderful name—Alpha and Omega!