I am all for doing
whatever is necessary to improve our lives, but I am a strong believer that we
should always remember to do what our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, said in Matthew
6:33: “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall
be yours as well.” We should never fail to put God and His will first in our
lives in everything we do. The word of God is all
about new beginnings: We have the Book of Genesis itself, whose very name means
“beginning,” and within its pages God shares with us the creation story and how
with just His word the whole universe sprang into existence. We also see how sin
first arrived in that perfect world, and how quick was God to offer a remedy
for that sin by stating the very first prophecy of redemption regarding the
Messiah in Genesis 3:15. A few chapters later we see the underpinning of the
nation of Israel laid as God promises Abraham that from him would come peoples
and nations and most importantly, the Promised Seed from Whom all the world
would be blessed. At the conclusion of the Book of Genesis, we see the
foundation of God’s chosen people being created as Joseph protects his family
from the famine that had ravaged the land, his family who were direct descendants
of Abraham, in the land of Egypt. In the Book of Exodus,
we see the beginning of the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people, come to
fruition as God calls them out of bondage in Egypt as the Lord formed His covenant
with them at Mt. Sinai. But shortly thereafter, we witness the beginning of the
long history of Israel’s rebellion against Jehovah. But He is steadfastly
loving and patient and kind in His longsuffering, always maintaining a remnant
for Himself. In 1 Samuel, we find the beginning of the monarchy created as God
has Samuel anoint Saul as its first earthly king, once again resulting from the
people rejecting their true King, Jehovah. It’s in 2 Samuel we find the
beginning of the Davidic line to the throne established, the line from which
came Israel’s and our King and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Upon His arrival,
the Old Covenant gave way to the new, which is why the Hebrews writer tells us in
Hebrews 8:13 just before the Destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, “And what is becoming
obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Jesus Christ is all
about new beginnings. Through Him we have forgiveness of sins |
- David R. Ferguson
preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH. He may be
contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com |
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Resolutions
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