JESUS IS THE KEY!

We proclaim him [Christ], admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. — Colossians 1:28

THOUGHTS ON TODAY’S VERSE....

The life of Jesus is transformational. The resurrection of Jesus is transformational. The Gospel of Jesus is transformational. Jesus' gift of the Spirit is transformational. The proclamation of Jesus is transformational. The work of Jesus is transformational. In other words, Jesus is the key, the center, the hub, and the heart of what we do and why we do it. Paul also reminds us that Jesus Christ is our goal.

WORDS ARE POWERFUL!

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. — 1 Peter 1:23

THOUGHTS ON TODAY’S VERSE....

Words are powerful! They can maim, wound, and debilitate. They can also bless, encourage, and inspire. When those words are God's Word, they are even more important. God's Word — the Scriptures, the Gospel — is not only truth, but it is life! Alive and enduring, God's Word imparts life to us and gives us his message of eternal life. It tells us of his grace and teaches us how we can be born again. Let's not take it for granted ... or neglect its message ... or remain silent about its truth.

CHRISTIANS ARENT PERFECT, JUST FORGIVEN!

Once you were alienated from God ... but now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. — Colossians 1:22

THOUGHTS ON TODAY’S VERSE....

"Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven!" You've probably seen this bumper sticker or something similar. In one sense this is absolutely true. But, from God's point of view, Christians ARE perfect. That's the incredible message Paul gives the Colossians. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, God does not see our imperfections. He sees us through Christ's perfection. Look at these concepts and marvel! Look at how God views you and give thanks! Be humbled by God's grace to us in Jesus and rejoice! Holy, without blemish, and free from accusation — there's nothing left to say but "Hallelujah!"

STAY AWAY FROM EVIL!

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. —Titus 1:15

THOUGHTS ON TODAY'S VERSE....
Rust stains, grass stains, blood stains, chocolate stains — ARGH! Those stains are real nightmares in the laundry room. They don't just leave a stain on the surface of the fabric, but they also leave a residue that infiltrates the fibers of our clothes. Evil is that way. We must not kid ourselves. Evil corrupts and leaves a residue that corrupts everything it touches, including the hearts of otherwise decent people. That's why we are urged to stay far away from evil and avoid its very appearance. That's also why Jesus died: to not only overcome the Evil One, but to also clean away the stain and its residue.

PRAYER
Father, guard my path and give me good Christian friends who will help guard my life from evil. In addition, dear Father, please help me as I seek to share the cleansing and liberating power of Christ with those around me who are caught in evil's destructive and deceptive grasp. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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JESUS MY REDEEMER

He [the Word, Jesus] was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. — John 1:2-3

THOUGHTS ON TODAY’S VERSE....

Jesus was there. He was with God in the beginning. But he was more than just a witness of Creation; he created it! Jesus, who allowed himself to be limited to human flesh and to die a cruel and agonizing death on the Cross, was there at the beginning as the Word speaking our world into existence. He made it. It is his. Yet he came and died to redeem it. More specifically, he came to redeem you and me. So when the Word speaks to us telling us how to live to please God, don't you think we'd better pay attention? Better yet, don't you think we ought to do it?

LET'S START THE NEW YEAR WITH GOD!

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. — Genesis 1:1

THOUGHTS ON TODAY'S VERSE....
We are creatures of the earth. Yes, we are much more than that, but occasionally we need to be reminded of that! We can't truly understand existence before time, yet before the beginning of time as we know it, God existed — he has revealed himself as "I Am," the one who was and who is and who is to come. Before there was an ordered universe to provide the basis of our existence, God is "I Am." He had existence before, beyond, and without our created universe. We can't even truly comprehend this in its entirety. That's why every new beginning — whether it is a day, a week, a year, or a millennium — should begin with God. He alone is the ultimate Genesis, our beginning.

PRAYER
Almighty Creator and God of all of the universe, I praise you for your incomparable power and your incomprehensible glory. As I begin this new year, I know that my future rests in your will, your grace, and your salvation. Please go with me as I journey toward this future. Please be glorified in the way I live my life today, this year, and for as long as you give me earthly life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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