Mark My Words – A Great Way to Start the New Year

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
(Hebrews 10:25, NKJV)

Have you made your New Year’s resolutions? For some of you it may be to lose some weight. For others it may be to get serious about an exercise program. For others it could be to learn something new that you’ve been putting off for way too long. And how about the wonderful goal to reduce or get out of debt? And the list goes on and on. The problem with New Year’s resolutions is not in making them. That’s easy enough. The hard part is in keeping them. Since it is so difficult to keep our resolutions, we should choose them wisely, and then pray asking God to give us the strength to fulfill them. We should certainly make sure that all of our resolutions line up with the teachings found in Holy Scripture. I would like to suggest to you one of the most important resolutions that a person could make going into 2020. That would be to find a good church and stay engaged in that church. There are many blessings that come from being involved in church.

Why am I so adamant in suggesting that being in church is one of the most important resolutions that a person can make? I have been a Pastor now for about 18 years. I have had the opportunity to counsel and minister to many people during that time with many different difficulties and problems. We all encounter problems in this life. No one is immune. We live in a sinful and fallen world where people get sick and die. Financial problems can strike at any time. Surely, you have been hurt by another’s words or actions.  Surely also, you have hurt others with your words and actions. We all face problems in life regardless of whether we are male or female, rich or poor, black or white, etc.

Now for that most important resolution! Remember how I said that I have counseled and ministered to many people with all types of problems? There was one GREAT OMISSION in the lives of some of those folks that was the root of so many other problems. What was that omission? CHURCH. So many of the problems that we and others face would simply evaporate over time if we would make the resolution to get in church and stay in church. You see, the church is God’s avenue of providing blessings to the believer in Christ. It is also the avenue by which the non-believer can come to know Christ. The church is where we can find the grace that we need to help us in our time of need. Apart from the grace of God found in the fellowship of a local church, small problems can grow like a snowball until they become out of control. When we participate in Sunday School, Discipleship Training, Worship, Lord’s Supper, and fellowship opportunities we are strengthened in our faith and able to stand our ground against the wiles of our enemy, the Devil. Apart from the support of the local church, we will certainly be defeated in our walk of faith and also remain powerless to conquer self-defeating patterns of behavior.

Wishing You and Yours a very Happy and Safe New Year! Hope to see you in church!

Mark