Carol J German

God has given you a new year to experience more life. You have choices in your experiences. You can choose to ignore God or respond to Him. He always has something new for you to learn, and as the world is revealing its sinful ways, you would be wise to choose the ways of the Lord in 2023.

Let your faith go deeper with studying the words of God’s disciple named Paul. His words of wisdom will help set your feet on the Rock of your salvation as you face this new year with a willingness to see from God, and bravery to follow wholeheartedly into the unknown which is not unknown to God. He goes before you; see Deuteronomy 31:8.

Paul was traveling from town to town sharing the Gospel of Christ. He shared Jesus with religious folks as well as non-believers, whoever would listen. When he was in Athens, “he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere.”¹⁶ You will find his story in Acts 17:16-34. One could say that Paul would say the same thing today if he walked the streets in America. Keep this in mind as you study this passage of scripture. All the different people Paul met are the same way today. Sinful man has not changed.

Paul had the heart of Christ. He didn’t at first, read Acts 9 to learn more, but when God got a hold of him and he chose to see God, everything changed! From that moment on, Paul lived for God. He wanted everyone to know Jesus Christ. Now, Paul found himself in front of Athens’ city council with pertinent words for them, words that can change their life if they choose to believe. These words are pertinent for you and me today. Are you, am I, willing to believe? Are you, am I, willing to align myself to what God wants?

If you are looking for a passage of scripture to memorize so you can share the Gospel easily, here it is, verses 24-31:

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since He is Lord of heaven and earth, He doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve His needs – for He has no needs. He Himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need. From one man He created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and He determined their boundaries.

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him – though He is not far away from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’ And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsman from gold or silver or stone.

“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now He commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to Him. For He has set a day of judging the world with justice by the man He has appointed, and He proved to everyone who this is by raising Him from the dead.”

Take some time and read through this slowly. What is God saying to you?

Notice there were three responses from people after he spoke. You see these same responses today. One response was flat out ridicule over the fact that Jesus resurrected from the dead. It wasn’t even something to consider. It was laughable. These people ignored God. Another response was one of desiring to know more but it would have to be at a later time. Whatever the reason, Jesus would have to wait, perhaps for a more convenient time. These people would never get around to choosing God. The final response you see was those who chose to believe and they joined Paul. They chose to change what they needed to change in their lives to align themselves up with what God is doing.

As you sojourn your way in this new year, which response will you give God?

I want you to know that choosing to align your life up with God’s will is the wisest of your choices. While the first two responses keeps you in the driver’s seat, because of sin, your life will end when God stops your heart. But if you choose wisely and allow Christ to lead you forward, your life is enriched, becomes abundantly purposeful, and eternal life is yours. When God comes for you, Jesus will take you home with Him.

God wants you to choose wisely. God wants you to choose His gift of salvation. His gift is one of true love and honor. It is full of grace and mercy as well. You become a heir to all that belongs to God when you say yes to Jesus Christ.

I look forward to digging deeper with you in this new year. God has much to teach you and I. It will be a great year!