Living By Faith in the New Year

Happy New Year! God has granted us another turn of the year. Goodbye 2022. Hello 2023! What a blessing! What kind of year will we make it? Just about everyone has plans—plans to work, plans to study, plans to travel, plans to relax, etc. Where is God in our plans? Will we be walking by faith as we carry out our plans? Will we be looking for His presence in our lives every day? Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Do we always “see” the God who always sees us?

Why don’t we always see God? The word “distraction” comes to mind. Distraction is what happens when we are not focused. Our culture contains many distractions that will change the focus of our lives away from God. Some of these distractions include: sports, video games, entertainment, television, cell phones, music, to name a few. There is nothing inherently sinful about these things. They should not, however, dominate our lives. Turning back to the scriptures, we read, “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). Are we living by faith?

Where does our focus need to be in 2023? Jesus tells us. “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). How do we do this? Come to church. Read the Bible. Pray to God. Take care of your family. Help the needy. Love your enemies. “Fear God and keep His commandments for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley