I was thinking and praying about the coming of the new year and this verse came to mind:
…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
May 2015 be a year that has the GOD, by way of the Gospel at it’s center. May we leave behind any sins of the mind, heart, and hands, hindrances that “cling so closely’. These things hold us back from being the God-glorifying vessel God has called and privileged us to be. But 2015 can’t chiefly be about what we leave behind, but what we fully embrace. We must be “looking to Jesus”, the founder, author, perfecter, finisher and the object of our faith. The greatest thing about 2015 will be the same as what was greatest about 2014, Christ “endured the cross”. We will receive no greater news in the coming year than message of our being reconciled unto God through the blood of Jesus Christ. He died the death that we deserved to die. He lives, that we may live. He’s given us His Spirit. By faith in Christ, we are made children of God. Christian, if God is for us, who can be against us? Think about it! It’s going to be a GREAT year!
Christians, we are in a race. It’s a marathon. As we run with our eyes fixed on Jesus, our view of Him keeps growing larger as we draw closer. May our view of Christ be BIGGER, this time next year!
As we all know, runners train. One way that we can train, and keep our focus on Christ is to read and meditate on His Word, daily. Why not start each day reading God’s Word before you do anything else? I promise you all time in the Word will be time well spent. Below are some links to a few reading plans that might aid you in making God’s Word a priority in your daily life in 2015.
10 Bible reading plans from Crossway
Pastor Roy Layman 