It’s hard to believe that a new year is here. Each New Year I love reading quotes that will inspire, motivate and challenge me for the coming year. Some of my favorite quotes during this time are:
- “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.” Bill Keane
- “Although no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” Carl Bard
- “Tough times never last but tough people do.” Robert Schuller
- “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Gandhi
- “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Henry Askins
- “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
I’m sure you have your favorite sayings as well.
Through the goodness and mercy of God we stand at the portal of a new year. Embracing a new year is always an exciting yet challenging adventure. While we look back at the previous year and learn from the testing, trials, defeats, and victories, we attempt to look into the next year wondering what this new opportunity will bring. As I began to think about 2022, I began to ask myself these questions. What does the world need now? How can the church reach a world in turmoil, one that is filled with division? One thing I know is that the church cannot be idle. This world is filled with opportunities as well as needs. Prayerfully considering what the world needs now, several things come to mind.
One, we must accept the challenge and continue to be A Great Commission Movement with A Great Commandment Mandate. The following scriptures challenge and excite me every day.
Matthew 28:18-20 - “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 12:29-31 - “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
There are tremendous reports coming out of many of our churches as they have committed to be Great Commission Churches with a Great Commandment Mandate. One church reported since taking this challenge just a few months ago, they now have a prayer list of those who need salvation of 171. Those 34 people have been saved as of November 15. Praise the Lord! Other churches are reporting a revival spirit and adults and children being baptized and families coming to the church. Let us not be idle but continue to be a Great Commission Movement.
Another thing the world needs now is for the Christian believer to ‘Walk in the Spirit.’ Galatians 5:13-16 reads - “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Paul shares in Galatians 5 that the Christian walks in the Spirit.
- We can walk in the freedom of the Spirit.
- We can walk in the fruitfulness of the Spirit.
- We can walk in the fulness of the Spirit.
Walking is considered healthy for the body. Beginning to walk will be a New Year’s resolution for many. Why not make walking in the Spirit our New Year’s resolution and have a healthy soul!
Finally, what the world needs now is love sweet love. You probably have heard the words to this song.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No not just for some, but for everyone.
"What the World Needs Now Is Love” is a popular song that was recorded in April of 1965 by Jackie DeShannon and the lyrics were written by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach. Through the years this song has been recorded by other artists as our country went through change and especially times of turmoil and division.
The world will judge the church by the choices we make as we enter a New Year. What choices will you make:
Hate has 4 letters, so does Love.
Enemies has 7 letters, so does Friends.
Lying has 5 letters, so does Truth.
Negative has 8 letters, so does Positive.
Under has 5 letters, so does Above.
Cry has 3 letters, so does Joy.
Anger has 5 letters, so does Happy.
Right has 5 letters, so does Wrong.
Hurt has 4 letters, so does Heal.
It means life is like double edged sword. So, transform every negative side into an aura of positivity. Choose the better side of Life.
We are faced with great challenges and we do not know what lies ahead as we move into 2022, but I know God is with us and together we can make a difference for the Glory of God!
