Jay's Message-January 25

New Year’s Expectations

Proverbs 19:20, 21

New Year’s typically brings resolutions, intentions, desires, hopes, dreams…and fears. Some hold solidly to the idea of New Year’s inertia—that nothing at all will change, no matter what we do, for better or worse.

The idea that a calendar flipping over actually empowers change is a concept rooted in ignorance. Qualitative change occurs through the attention, or inattention, of human beings. God grants latitude for us to make choices. Our actions produce consequences that we then must deal with or at least live with. God’s ultimate purposes will not be altered or thwarted, but life is a long road in which we either live in obedient submission and service to Him or chase eternally worthless pursuits. How can believers make choices that honor God and conform to His will?

Proverbs 19:20 and 21 give straightforward and simple insight. Verse 20 must be kept in context: we must heed the Lord’s counsel and discipline if we are to live wisely. Accepting counsel that is false, deceiving, and counter to God’s Word is never the path to pleasing God. Discernment is needed!

Verse 21 sharpens the focus and warns us- the human heart harbors many plans (schemes, intentions, plots, purposes), but only the counsel (advice, plan, purpose) of the Lord will stand (arise, be con-firmed, be established).

So, what will we choose? Trying to figure it all out ourselves, being deceived and deceiving others, ig-noring the direction of God? Or will we stay in the Word, making it our meditation, praying always and depending on the strength of the Lord? For Christians, the choice should be obvious!