God's New Year Resolution

Life is hard. There are many of us who would say that this past year has been the hardest. Some of us face the new year with huge challenges, obstacles, concerns, and even confusions looming heavy overhead.

This time of year is also the time when we resolve to do different. Many sermons will be be preached today about starting fresh. But I want to start in a different place. I want to remind you that God is resolved to love you. He desires to show you new mercies every day. And his steadfast love is first and foremost seen in sending Jesus to be our savior.

Lamentations is an interesting book of the Bible. It is Jeremiah's bemoaning all that has happened in and to Israel. For most of 5 chapters, it is a very sad, discouraging book. He talks about their sin and suffering due to their sin in chapter 1. In chapter 2, Jeremiah describes God's wrath against Israel, Jerusalem, and the Temple. God had sent Nebuchadnezzar to judge the people and lead them into captivity. Times are so desperate that princes are being hung up by their hands, people are selling all they have to try to get food, and mothers are boiling their young children for food. Jeremiah was very direct in the way he communicated his anger and sadness to God, but he ultimately confessed that the plight of Israel was not God's fault, but theirs.

The first half of Chapter 3 is very personal with Jeremiah laying out all the things that God has done against Him. In chapter 4, he tells Edom not to get excited about God's judgment, because they too may face it. And in Chapter 5, Jeremiah pleads to God that He do something about Israel's plight. But right in the midst of all this despair, moaning, and lament, Jeremiah remembers something that brings hope to his heart.

Hope Happens in the Midst of Great Sorrow

Lamentations 3:18–21 HCSB

Then I thought: My future is lost, as well as my hope from the LORD. Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed. Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope:

Hope Comes from the Promise of New Mercies

Lamentations 3:22–23 HCSB

Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

Two words are used

Faithful love, loving kindness, mercies, etc. This word, hesed, is so rich. It speaks of loyalty, obligation, faithfulness, goodness, zeal, love benevolence etc.

mercies, compassion, - Interestingly this word has at its root the womb.

They never end. At 11:59:59 they are still going strong, and at 12:00 Midnight, He provides BRAND NEW LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR A BRAND NEW DAY. See, God doesn't make new year resolutions, He resolved once and for all to give NEW mercies moment by moment. There is not a second that occurs in your life that God doesn't have love and compassion for you. Whatever you are going through.

Hope leads to the Desire of New Resolve

1 John 4:19 HCSB

We love because He first loved us.

I couldn't help think, that if we are going to resolve anything, it should be out of our love for Him, and empowered by the Holy Spirit in us. But, in order to truly resolve to love him and serve Him, we may need to also put into practice

1 John 1:9 HCSB

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If you plan on making any resolutions this year, don't come up with your ideas and then ask God to bless them.

1. Rest in His Resolve to love you.

2. Seek to know Him, Love Him, and Serve Him more.

3. Ask Him specific ways to do this, and resolve to yield to the Holy Spirit to accomplish this.

Now for Riddles Bend, I have prayed diligently about what to emphasize this upcoming year.

I talked to Kenneth when I got back from Gatlinburg and he said its been real quiet while you were gone. WELL IM BACK!

GROW

I want to emphasize three areas in the next few months. These are not event driven things, but things that need to be in our DNA.

Grow is one of them.

But I want to emphasize personal growth or discipleship. One of the things that has bothered me for decades is how easily people can fall out about things in the church and demonstrate incredible immaturity. It shows that even though they might have been born again years ago, real discipleship has never taken place. Disciples Path seek to change that. I really want to see several of you join in on this.

I believe numerical growth and spiritual growth need to go hand in hand. So in January we are pushing people to get in a small group and grow.

GIVE

When we approached this year's budget on paper we were faced with a stark reality. We did not meet last years budget in giving. And we increased this years budget on a small scale. As we discussed in that business meeting, we will not spend money we don't have. BUT, I really am curious what it would look like if all of Riddles Bend TITHED. A few months ago, one of the folks that hasn't given their life to Christ yet, but circles in and out of the church asked the question, "Are yall supposed to tithe since you are the pastor?" What a wonderful question. Let me just say "yes" Not out of obligation, but out of loving obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ who gave everything to us, we give at least 10% on our GROSS pay. PERIOD. No longer a question. It's no longer debated in our minds or in our conversation. So FEBRUARY we will emphasize GIVING. I am going to ask every family to be sure that during February, we tithe. ALL of us. Committed for one month. We are going to "prove the tithe" during February. I want us to see we don't have a budget problem, we don't have a spending problem. Sometimes I hear "we need something going on for people to give to." I bite my tongue more than most people realize. We have to change our thinking from project giving to obedient giving. We give because we love. So in February, I want us to prove it.

GO

This will be our emphasis for March. Easter is April 16th this year. But I want us to focus on regular going... visitation. contacts in the community on an ongoing basis. Lots more to come

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