Three Actions Steps for a New Year
Sunday, as we began 2023, we were challenged to make God’s Word a priority in our life for this year. I want to feed off of the sermon on Sunday and give you three action steps for your New Year.
If we are making God’s Word our priority, we must consult God’s Word for these steps. Today, we turn our attention to the closing verses of Ecclesiastes where Solomon (the preacher) summarizes the pursuit of life (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
The first action step is WORSHIP
Solomon said it very simply in Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Fear God.”
The Bible often talks about the fear of the Lord. What does it mean to fear God? I love acrostics, so let me give you an acrostic that might help you.
F stands for the favor of the Lord’s company. Fearing God means you’re value His presence in your life. You long to be with him. You thirst for Him as the deer thirsts for the water (Psalm 42:1-2).
E stands for exalt the Lord’s glory. If you fear the Lord, you’ll want to tell others how great He is. You’ll talk about Him. You exalt His glory.
A stands for acknowledge the Lord’s sovereignty. To fear God is to trust Him, especially when He doesn’t explain Himself.
R stands for remember the Lord’s generosity. Whatever you have in life, whatever you’ve become, you only have God to thank.
The second action step is to OBEY
Solomon continued, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Frankly, you don’t need any acrostic to help you understand what it means to obey the Lord. So as we enter 2023, be doers of the Word and not just be hearers only (James 1:22). The Word of God tells us to love…so we must love. The Word of God tells us to forgive…so we must forgive. The Word of God says to be generous…so we must be generous. The Word of God tells us to make disciples…so we must make disciples. The list goes on…and we must practice what we preach as believers…obedience to God’s Word.
A final action step is to PREPARE
In the next verse, Solomon continues: “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Solomon puts a hand on your shoulder and says, “Stay alert! Take a good hard look at your life, considering that coming day when you stand before the Lord. Be prepared to meet your Creator!”
Live this next year in light of that day when you will stand before God.
I once heard a man say, “You know there are only two days that you need to think about—today and that day when you see Christ.”
That sounds like the wise counsel of Solomon as he invites us to invest our lives in anything and everything that would please the Lord.
So, don’t just live life down here under the sun. Live your life, in light of eternity. What we do down here on earth, sends ripple effects throughout eternity. So do your work unto the Lord, for the glory of the Lord. Walk in His wisdom as you walk in the Spirit of God in 2023.
Walking together in Christ,
Pastor Todd
If we are making God’s Word our priority, we must consult God’s Word for these steps. Today, we turn our attention to the closing verses of Ecclesiastes where Solomon (the preacher) summarizes the pursuit of life (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
The first action step is WORSHIP
Solomon said it very simply in Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Fear God.”
The Bible often talks about the fear of the Lord. What does it mean to fear God? I love acrostics, so let me give you an acrostic that might help you.
F stands for the favor of the Lord’s company. Fearing God means you’re value His presence in your life. You long to be with him. You thirst for Him as the deer thirsts for the water (Psalm 42:1-2).
E stands for exalt the Lord’s glory. If you fear the Lord, you’ll want to tell others how great He is. You’ll talk about Him. You exalt His glory.
A stands for acknowledge the Lord’s sovereignty. To fear God is to trust Him, especially when He doesn’t explain Himself.
R stands for remember the Lord’s generosity. Whatever you have in life, whatever you’ve become, you only have God to thank.
The second action step is to OBEY
Solomon continued, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Frankly, you don’t need any acrostic to help you understand what it means to obey the Lord. So as we enter 2023, be doers of the Word and not just be hearers only (James 1:22). The Word of God tells us to love…so we must love. The Word of God tells us to forgive…so we must forgive. The Word of God says to be generous…so we must be generous. The Word of God tells us to make disciples…so we must make disciples. The list goes on…and we must practice what we preach as believers…obedience to God’s Word.
A final action step is to PREPARE
In the next verse, Solomon continues: “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Solomon puts a hand on your shoulder and says, “Stay alert! Take a good hard look at your life, considering that coming day when you stand before the Lord. Be prepared to meet your Creator!”
Live this next year in light of that day when you will stand before God.
I once heard a man say, “You know there are only two days that you need to think about—today and that day when you see Christ.”
That sounds like the wise counsel of Solomon as he invites us to invest our lives in anything and everything that would please the Lord.
So, don’t just live life down here under the sun. Live your life, in light of eternity. What we do down here on earth, sends ripple effects throughout eternity. So do your work unto the Lord, for the glory of the Lord. Walk in His wisdom as you walk in the Spirit of God in 2023.
Walking together in Christ,
Pastor Todd
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