After this Sunday, we will have three days to complete the year 2014, three days to prepare ourselves to start a new year. Follow the example of Jesus and put to death all the things you don’t need to do anymore. “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4: 28 – 29)
Bury the old and put on Jesus Christ. How do we do this? Do like the young man who used to visit our home when the children were in high school. He had a foul mouth and he wasn’t allowed to use bad language in our home; so, before he came up the driveway he would swipe his mouth with his hands, act as if he was coughing up all of his bad words, and shove them into our mailbox at the end of the driveway. We tried to talk him out of picking them back up when he left but that took a while. You have three days to throw the bitter words out with the trash, delete the pornography from your computer, pour the booze down the drain, excuse yourself and flush all of your sorry attitudes down the toilet.
The apostle Paul says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4: 30 – 32)
Three days and a new year begins. In three days, make sure God is raising you to a new life in 2015! In three days, give yourself to follow God, be filled with His Spirit, and walk in His love.
Don’t forget to read John 1: 1 – 14 to get ready for January 4th and keep up with what we are doing at Laurel Hill UMC with the January Newsletter and Calendar.
(UMFS). This includes all donations received during the Christmas Eve offering time, as well as all funds received in the special Christmas offering envelope dated December 25th. It will help our tellers and Financial Recording Secretary if you write “UMFS” on the memo line of your check and on your envelope. The Christmas Eve communion rail offering will be dedicated to benevolence through the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. Regular church offerings and tithes should be brought on the Sundays before or after the Christmas Eve worship service. Thank you for blessing our church and others!