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Affections:Hope for the New Year
< What are affections?
It is defined well as ones passion or hearts desire. What do we desire for this upcoming new year?
What are our thoughts on most of the time?
If we are to have a happy and prosperous New Year I feel it is most important that we have our affections in the right place. If you are reading this and you do not know the Lord as your savior, I hope your greatest desire and passion for the start of this new year is for salvation. Nothing in this world is more important than your souls salvation. We do not even have the promise of another day or another year or even another hour so it is so important to seek him now and not to let the world or anything else distract you from it. If you are a Christian I hope that we can guide you with some scriptures for a most blessed New Year. We hope that this is your number one desire for the New Year. We hope it is your hearts desire to see someone saved and to be a worker in God's field. No matter what you feel your talent is, God has a work for you to do.
This takes us back to our affections. Where are your affections? What are they set upon? The bible teaches us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. It also teaches us that we cannot serve God and man. We cannot please God this way nor serve him effectively. The bible says that a man cannot serve to masters. What is most important for us as Christians is not to lose our Christian focus. The word says that without a vision the people perish. When you think of those you know , that are most certainly lost and then you envision Hell and them going there it is not something to be at ease about.
We need a greater concern for these people. Some Christians have the misconception that only a Deacon or preacher or Sunday school teacher can serve God or talk to others about Jesus. This is not true. Remember what Jesus said, the fields are white unto harvest but the reapers where are they? Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send Labourers into the field. Have we done this? How concerned are we about our church growing? Have we been praying that God would send in more help? Have we been praying that God would send in the lost?
We have a work to do just by praying. God can use you. It is so important for us not to forget about these things. Prayer can definately change things.
Is our hearts on the lost? Our church? Do we lift up our pastor in prayer and ask God to strengthen him? He needs our prayers too. If none of these things have been through your mind when reflecting on the upcoming year then it is safe to say by what the word tells us that your heart and affections are in the wrong place. Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. I beleive the Earth this verse was speaking was not only speaking of material things but fleshly things as we read where man was formed from the dust of the Earth. So from this verse we are being told not to set our passions or hearts desires on the things that please our flesh but on things that would be pleasing to God and that would benefit the kingdom of God. We are like soldiers that are in a spiritual warfare. When you are in an Army one must follow the commands of their superior officers, their captains and generals. They would not be doing their duty if they did not. We have a captain in this spiritual Army and the plans have all been laid out in his word. If we are not obeying the word of God or living by the word of God then we are useless in this warfare. Satan likes to entice us away and we get drawn away by our own lusts, things that are pleasing to the eye and distract us and take our mind away from our duty. We all have a job to do. What does this have to do with having a Happy New Year? If you have truly been saved and you are not living for the Lord and you have your affections set upon the things you want and the things you desire then you are pursuing the wrong things in search of happiness. The things that you are seeking for happiness is only going to lead to disssappointment. This is not my opinion but God's word. We as Christians will not truly be satisfied until we are doing God's will. Why? Because what God put within us he didn't just give us to sit on a shelf but meant for it to be used. Remember the scripture of the light in under a bushel? The light was to be used to give light to all that was in the house not to be hidden away. The same with those who were given talents. They were to be made use of not to be hidden in the earth. So the question I want us all to look closely at today is where is your affection? Is it more on worldy things or Godly things?
Is it on things above or things of the world and of the flesh? Perhaps it is on a career. A career is a fine thing but it is not to be placed above our service to God. Some people are very head set on acquiring financial security and laying up for the future. What does the word say about this? Sorry to bust your bubbles but it again says to " Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust can corrupt and theives can break through and steal but rather lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven " What are treasures in Heaven? What about a soul that you can help find their way to God. Would that not be a wonderful treasure to know you have waiting for you? By our obedience to God in following his spirit in just the smallest of things, mountains can be moved. You just never know what some small act or deed in God's name and showing forth his love will do for a person. It could be that you are the only Jesus they will ever see, the only Bible they have ever read. Your life could mean the difference between someone going to Heaven or Hell. What if you are too busy thinking of your own pleasures and desires and you pass someone in need of salvation by? What is your life saying to the lost world today? Did you know that your life is an open book? If people know you claim to be saved then not only are they looking at you as an example of a christian you are also representing the Church and all saved people. What kind of reflection are we being?
If every church member were just like me, what kind of church would this church be? You are the only church some people are seeing friends because they do not go to his house. We represent to them the church and they need to see a shining example.
Their very soul may depend upon it. We are not our own friends, when we are saved We belong to the lord and his service. We have a work to do.
You may be unsaved and think well if being saved means I can't be my own anymore then I don't want to be saved but heed to the words in the bible that says: What would it profit a man if he gain the whole world but lose his own soul, or what would he give in exchange for his soul?
Do not let the devil deceive you. There is a rich man in Hell today still crying out for one drop of water (the water of life, salvation through Christ) but he will never get it. In this life he had all money could by and he didn't regard the word of God nor did he think of anyone's needs but his own but if he could only go back and do it all over again he would gladly live the life of a beggar just to have salvation. All of the things of this world is going to pass away. Everything. Salvation is the most valuable thing you can posess. It is the only thing that will matter in the end. Same for you Christian that may be seeking your own or worldly prestige or bank accounts. All the things we could ever lay up or enjoy on earth will someday pass away. What is more important? To have these things or to be an effective Christian. What would be most fullfilling to our soul? Living the life that God would have for us to of course. To be a help to the lost or someone in need. Those are the treasures in life. Those are the things that we need to have our affection set upon. These are the only things that will lead to happiness in this coming year or any time in our lives. To be happy we must be followers of Gods word. We must be doers.