My dear sisters and brothers, I trust that you had a very Merry Christmas and I pray the very best for you, your families and loved ones in the New Year 2021.
May God’s plans for your lives be experienced in full measure in 2021. God cannot lie. He means it when He says to us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29: 11) NIV.
What does the fulfillment of God’s plans for our lives mean in light of the text, “they will call him Immanuel” [a] (which means “God with us”)? It means that God has come to dwell with us to enrich our lives in the following ways:
To redeem us from sin and death. This implies that His life is the payment for the sin that was transmitted to us through Adam. Remember scripture states, “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6: 23a). That’s the death that has affected all human beings. However, in Christ we have been freed. However, we must accept our freedom by believing in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation.
With our lives connected to God, through faith in Jesus Christ, we have confidence to live in the present, no matter the circumstances, including the Coronavirus Covid- 19 calamity, and great hope for the future: fully assured that we will be with the Lord in eternal glory.
In this present life, to burrow a term from the Philosopher Paul Tillich, “Utilmate Concern,” our ultimate concern is God. God must be first in our lives at all times and other things can follow. Hence, we must “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6: 33).
What are the “all these things?” They are all the good that you desire in life: a wonderful family, happy home, fruitful career, a good job, etc. God promises us good health as well. Indeed with Him we will prosper in all our ways.
My brothers and sisters, as the Lord pours out the abundance of His blessings upon our lives in this New Year 2021, love Him wholeheartedly and serve Him with a Glad and generous heart. Remember also to look out for your brothers and sisters and love them unconditionally. You are your brothers sisters keeper. God bless you wonderfully.
Yours In The Master’s Business,
Telford D. Matthew (Rev.)
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