Corona Devo 1400


Many of us will countdown today and tonight.  Countdown to the New Year.  Countdown the top songs, movies, shows, trends, and even a countdown of people of the past year.  

Time is always ticking and one more year has ticked-by.  As we countdown today, are we ready for the New Year that is coming?

And beyond that, Jesus instructs us to be ready for His coming.

Are we ready?  

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  ~2 Corinthians 11:13-15  

Don't be blinded as we countdown to a New Year.  

Many minds are blinded.  They worry and despair about many things (and there are many things to despair about!), but Jesus calms our hearts and directs our focus on Him, instead of the world's woes.  

  • “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  ~John 16:33 
  • You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  ~Matthew 24:6

Tick-tock.  The hours, the days, and another Year has clipped by.  As we countdown to midnight, take a moment to reflect on how we have spent the hours, days and months of the past Year...and of how we will purpose to spend them in the next.  

A firm foundation in Christ doesn't happen by happenstance.  It is purposed and held-fast by diligence and commitment.  If God wasn't prioritized in our past Year...He can be in our New One. 

  • Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  ~Mark 1:35
  • You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  ~Isaiah 26:3 
  • “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!   (15) And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  ~Joshua 24:14-15
We can't stop the sands in the hourglass of time, but we can make the moments and days count.  We can't know when our "tick-tocks" will stop ticking, but we can certainly live today in expectancy of an eternal tomorrow and in service to the One who holds tomorrow.

  • “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,but only the Father.  ~Matthew 24:36   
  • Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.  (20) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  ~Romans 16:19-20  
  • When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  (38) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (39) The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  ~Acts 2:37-39

It's the final countdown...of 2024, but may the passing of another Year mark the coming of Christ in our hearts, days, and lives.  

Our Years are meaningless and without purpose if we spend them without Jesus.  But the New Year can be filled with Christ's fruit, and so can we: 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  ~Galatians 5:22-23


Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 


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