Greetings in the majestic name of our Lord Jesus, the One who makes all things new. Our Lord is busy making things new every minute and every hour of every day. As we start 2018 fresh, we should be looking for new blessings every day. This will be a year of BETTER THINGS!
God’s timetable continues to move forward, and we should be moving with God. As we see the world growing darker and darker, we must do all we can to feed our spiritual fire and burn brighter. It is our time, and the anointing of God is available now for those who will press into Him!
Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. “Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar.”
–Isaiah 60:1-4
Your light has come! The light of the Word gives you faith to follow the Spirit of God. When you see instructions in the Word, they are not suggestions—they are commandments. If you expect better things and for His glory to be seen upon you, you will have to get into His light and follow the way of its illumination—like it or not.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” –John 14:15
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. –1 John 1:7
You see, we have a covenant with God if we have accepted Jesus. That covenant is better than any covenant made before it because it was made with the precious blood of Jesus. It was not made with the blood of animals, as covenants were made as far back as the time of Adam and Abel. This covenant was made and sealed with the very blood of God.
To Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. –Hebrews 12:24
Jesus’ blood speaks of better things; it speaks of a salvation so supernatural that all of its benefits may not be realized. This is why people perish; because of a lack of knowledge of what the covenant includes, or by not acting on that knowledge. However, our knowledge of the Word and acting on it will give confidence to our faith.
But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end. –Hebrews 6:9-11
The confidence of those who walked with Jesus and experienced Him first-hand could not be shaken. They gave their very lives for the Gospel. The writer of the Hebrew letter says, “We are confident of better things concerning you.” Those who knew Jesus also had to grow in the knowledge of their salvation—and from what they had learned, they knew there were better things!
Hebrews tells us that the Father sees the works of our love that are motivated because of Jesus’ love for us, and there is a reward. The writer encourages us to show the same diligence they did being fully assured of the hope in the promises until the end of our assignment here on earth. These verses also bring this to mind:
Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” –John 20:29
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. –Philippians 2:12
We are in the End Time, Jesus is coming! We must believe His Word and act on His Word always with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In doing so, we will come into an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father and our knowledge of Him will grow exponentially. The prophet Daniel tells us that knowledge shall increase in the time of the end (Dan. 12:4). We are there! The knowledge being revealed from the Word of God is greater now than ever before. He also tells us that those who know their God will do great exploits (Dan. 11:32).
Let 2018 be a year of new and better things! Turn away from old things in the past. Let failures and disappointments go, for better things are ahead as you push forward to your heavenly reward and the high calling of Christ. Purify yourself if you have the hope of better things coming, yes, even the coming of Jesus Himself.
Everything is set up to be better for you this year as you dwell in the things of God! Our Father is just, and your rewards will be stored up and poured out from heaven. In the book of Revelation, Jesus says many times over, “I know your works.” He knows what you are doing. Works are how you are rewarded. Works can’t earn you salvation; however, they do accrue rewards in this life and in the one to come.
In Revelation 2:1, Jesus declares that He walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. In the previous verses, He reveals the “lampstands” as the “churches.” Every time a church is open for a congregational meeting, Jesus is there to inspect the troops. He doesn’t have to call roll—He knows who is absent. Don’t let people tell you that going to church is unimportant. It seems to be very important to Jesus—He never misses a service.
Jesus says, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:30). The only reason some of these things seem hard to us or unnecessary is because we are loaded down with the cares of the world and what we are doing. Cast all those cares on Jesus! Allow Him to yoke you together with Himself and take on His easy burden.
Now, issues will certainly still arise, and they may seem grave (we do have an adversary, you know, whose name is Satan). We also have the victory that overcomes all the world, and that is our faith in the One to whom we are yoked. Amen!
The Father has better things for you starting today! Do all you can to stay in the light and out of darkness. We know that 2018 will be a year of better things being released. Michelle and I pray you will be in a position to receive them all in every area of your life. Thank you for your prayers and financial support.
Until next time, remember, Jesus is coming soon!
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