Examples And Warnings

God’s word is timeless and always relevant to any time in history. And we have greater accountability because we have much knowledge nowadays to address the temptations and trials of life. Our challenge is to keep ourselves from committing the same mistakes. We don’t have an excuse.

c. God is faithful. (v. 13b)

Here is the good news, the God we ignore in the past year and as a result we fail, is still here. He is faithful. Once again, He would not allow us to be tested beyond our capacity. He loves us and will remain faithful to you and me. He simply wants us to learn and become mature followers.

d. God will provide a way out. (v. 13c)

God’s faithfulness would be demonstrated by always providing a way out for those who depend on him in times of temptations and trials. God has the solutions to all our problems and concerns. Seek him and you will find Him. SEE ISAIAH 55:6-11.

APPLICATION: The current challenges are great but our God is greater than them and faithful in helping us succeed from those challenges. Let us depend on Him as we face the challenges of 2008. Past experiences serve as examples and warnings for future challenges.

CONCLUSION

ILLUSTRATION The famous Bible commentator Matthew Henry wrote this resolution in his journal on January 1, 1705:

Not renouncing, but repeating and ratifying all my former Covenants with God, and lamenting it, that I have not lived up more closely to them; I do in the beginning of this New Year solemnly make a fresh surrender of myself, my whole self, body, soul, and spirit, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, covenanting and promising, not in any strength of my own, for I am very weak, but in the strength of the grace of Jesus Christ, that I will endeavor this year to stand complete in all the Will of God.

I know this is the Will of God, even my sanctification; Lord grant that this year I may be more holy, and walk more closely than ever in all holy conversation; I earnestly desire to be filled with thy holy thoughts, to be carried out in holy affections, determined by holy aims and intentions, and governed in all my words and actions by holy principles. O that a golden thread of holiness may run through the whole web of this year.

May this be our prayer as we start another year of our lives.