In the last two days, we’ve discussed four of six ways God wants to bless you in the New Year. First, He wants to help you see the way He has shown His love for you all your life. Second, He wants to help you see your sin, admit your regret, and recognize your need for Him. Third, He gives you Jesus, who shed His blood on the cross to save you. Fourth, He makes you His child by giving you the credit for the life of perfect obedience that Jesus lived on your behalf.
Today let’s talk about your future. In the future, God wants you to continue to live without regret, so He plans to bless you in two more ways:
- God wants to bless you with the peace that comes when you trust Him and wait patiently for His timing. Jesus’ parents understood the importance of patience. The Bible says they took Jesus to be circumcised “at the end of eight days” (Luke 2:21). That’s when God had told the people of Israel to perform circumcisions. Mary and Joseph did things in God’s time, not theirs.
- Next, God wants to bless you with the peace that comes from acting without hesitation when He calls. Remember Simeon? He was the elderly gentleman who was told by God that he would see the promised Savior of Israel before he died. Luke 2:27 says that he “came in the Spirit into the temple.” The Spirit of God spoke to Simeon and told him that the time had come for him to see his Savior. So Simeon acted without hesitation, and he went to the temple.
Because Simeon followed God’s timing instead of his own, and because Mary and Joseph followed God’s timing instead of their own, they all received a great blessing that day. They all learned what it meant to live in God’s peace.
Here’s what Simeon said: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:29-30). And his parents? Luke 2:33 says, “His father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.”
“Marvelous peace.” Sounds good, doesn’t it? It’s yours in Jesus.
In your past, look and see how much God has shown you His love. And don’t live in denial. Admit how you’ve sinned and rebelled against Him.
In your present, look to Jesus, the Son of God, your Savior, and see yourself as God sees you through Jesus – as His favorite child.
In your future, trust Him to take care of you in His perfect timing, and follow Him in faith when He calls you to act.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Amen.