Worship Ministry - January 2024
Names of God: Restorer
It’s the new year! A new year comes with new goals, new desires, and new resolutions. Having goals and aspirations is good for us and gives us focus as we start a new year.
However, as we reflect on our spiritual lives, I would encourage us all not to rely on our ability! It’s easy to tell ourselves “I’m going to read more scripture,” “I’m going to pray more,” or “I’m going to sin less,” and forget that we need God’s help. We forget that we need God’s strength and His guidance.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” - John 21:15
As Jesus was going through His toughest trial, being arrested, beaten and crucified, Peter was running away and denying that he even knew Christ. Talk about failing God! When the time came for him to stand up and confess allegiance to Jesus, Peter chosehimself and self-preservation. Peter chose fear over faithfulness.
As Jesus reveals Himself to the disciples, in John 15, He takes time to ask Peter “Do you love me?” Jesus could have scolded him in front of the other followers, or torn Peter down for his unfaithfulness. Instead, Jesus asked Peter to commit to loving Him.
Henry Blackaby writes:
“As you begin a new year, you may be painfully aware that you have failed your Lord in many ways. Perhaps you were not faithful. Perhaps you disobeyed His word to you. Perhaps you denied Him by the way you lived. Jesus will take you aside, as He did Peter. He will not berate you. He will not humiliate you. He will ask you to examine your love for Him. He asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” If your answer, like Peter’s, is “Yes, Lord,” He will reaffirm His will for you. If you truly love Him, you will obey Him (John 14:15) Jesus does not need your resolutions, your recommitments, or your promises to try harder this year. If your resolve to obey God last year did not help you to be faithful, it will not make you successful this year. Jesus asks for your love. If you truly love Him, your service for Him in the new year will be of the quality that He desires.”
So as you begin this new year, make those goals, dream big dreams, but most importantly love God! Love Him “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” (Luke 10:27)
Love you and mean it!