Strategy of Planning

In the past, all of us have often been given a project to complete – at school, at work, at home, in the community, or on a team.  When we start working on a project the first thing we need to ask ourselves is, “Where should I begin?”  The answer to that question is simple – we should begin at the beginning; and of course, the beginning should include a plan. The plan should answer additional questions such as: (1) What should the completed project look like? (2) Who are the people who might help design and work on the project? (3) What resources are available for me to use? (4) What will be expected of everyone who participates in the project? (5) Is there a timeline identified to check progress? (6) How will the final project be presented and promoted?

The Bible identifies things that plans should include such as:

 1)    Progress: Plans should help propel the project to accomplishment. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

2)    Guidance: Plans need the counsel of others. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).

3)    Spiritual Dimension: Plans made with God in mind point to success. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).

4)    Completion: Plans should include finishing the project. “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means” (2 Corinthians 8:11).

Do you have a project to complete? Have you put together plans for that project? Have you included God and other counselors in your plan? Are you ready to give God the glory for His guidance and help as you proceed? The Bible reminds us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Beginning Anew

New Year’s Day provides the opportunity to begin anew.  Some people make New Year’s resolutions.  These are good, but many people find that those resolutions soon fall by the wayside.  With unfulfilled resolutions there is usually a sense of defeat and maybe even a little sadness. In this New Year let’s make our lives count in an even more significant way.  So you may ask, “how can I make my life count in a significant way?”  Consider the following suggestions:

1)    Make sure your life points to God.  This is the challenge the Apostle Paul made when he said, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31). Sharing good words and actions that are pleasing to God will put us on track for being a difference maker.

2)    Aim for godliness.  When keeping God central in our mind, we will grow spiritually and be an encouragement to others. The Apostle Paul tells us, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6). Speech most effectively expresses what is inside a person and when that speech mirrors God’s character, positive change can be effective.

3)    Live to draw people to God.  When we live as a reflection of God’s light and show concern by loving people, they will be able to see the glory of Christ in us and be drawn to Him.  The Bible tells us, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).  The ultimate goal is not to accomplish good deeds, but to help people take one step closer to the Lord.

Use this New Year as an opportunity to begin anew.  Make it your goal to focus on thinking, speaking, and acting in accordance with God’s name, and constantly letting the indwelling Christ be reflected to those around you.  The Bible reminds us, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (II Corinthians 5:17, NLT).

The Beginning and the End

For many people the month of March is both an end and a beginning.  It is the end of the long cold winter and it is also the beginning of warmer weather associated with spring.  It is interesting that the Bible also speaks about a beginning and an end.  The first words of Scripture tell us, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul spoke about the end.  Jesus said, “This is how it will be at the end of the age” (Matthew 13:49).

The Apostle Paul said, “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power” (I Corinthians 15:24). In a Bible search you will find the words “beginning” and “end” used together in twenty-two different verses.  Most of these references have to do with something that starts and then comes to an end, such as the reign of a king.  However, when you get to the last book of the Bible you will find Jesus using both of these terms.  Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 21:6) He also said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13).

So, what does Jesus mean by the words Alpha and Omega?  Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet – similar to our A and Z.  The idea of Christ being from A to Z means three things.

1)      Christ is Complete; there is nothing that He needs from any other source to complete who He is.

2)      Christ is Eternal.  He has always existed, and He always will exist.

3)      Christ is Authoritative.  He has creative power, sustaining power, and complete power over all things.

What does this mean for you and me?  The God who created all things and who exists throughout eternity has invited you and me into a personal relationship with Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ.  All we must do is to receive Him by faith and utilize the mighty power that He gives us to live a life that pleases Him. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Have you put your faith in this wonderful Lord who is the Alpha and Omega – the First and the Last?  Why not consider making that decision today?

New Beginnings

Once January 1^st rolls around, we experience the beginning of a new year and a new month.  Have you ever thought about things that have new beginnings?  In addition to the year and the month, every week has a new beginning; every day has two new beginnings – one in the morning and one in the afternoon; and every hour and minute has a new beginning.  There is the beginning of a new job, the beginning of school, the beginning of a relationship, the beginning of a meal, the beginning of a fast, the beginning of losing weight, the beginning of new resolutions, and on and on the new beginnings go.  Even the Bible speaks about a new beginning – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).  With the click of a computer key in an electronic Bible you will discover 90 New International Version verses containing the word “beginning”. The following five verses suggest some things that could be a new beginning for you.

1)    New Birth.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3).  We can experience new birth by being born into God’s family when we put our trust in Christ as our savior from sin.

2)    New Life.  “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4).  Once we experience new birth we are able to live the new life that God intended.

3)    New Command.  “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).  With new life we walk to the beat of a different drum and not only experience God’s love for us, but are able to share His love with others.

4)    New Song.  “And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain and with your blood youpurchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).  Everything that is new about our life ends up with a joyful song coming forth from our lips – even praise and adoration to our God.

5)    New Creation.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (II Corinthians 5:17).  The Apostle Paul is quick to note that when we personally receive Christ everything that is old about our life has been done away with and we become completely new through and through.

As you enter the New Year, rejoice in the fact that God has brought you to another year.  But also evaluate your life to make sure you have experienced all the new things that God would have you enjoy.  By His Spirit, when you put your trust in Christ for your salvation from sin, you will become a new creation and then have opportunity to “Tell the people the full message of this new life” (Acts 5:20).