January 1st....new year....new way of looking at things. Resolutions rise on the wings of the wind only to crash and burn in February. "I resolve to exercise more." "I resolve to eat healthy." And on and on go the litany of self improvement. Nothing wrong with making resolutions. We should all resolve to be a better people in this new year.
But long ago, God himself reset the calendar for a group of people who were getting ready to leave a world of slavery behind. Slavery was all they had known, and the land of Egypt was the place that held them in captivity. You know, when you've been in slavery for 400 years, that pretty much has defined who you are and how you view yourself.
In Exodus chapter twelve, verse two, we see God having a conversation with a man named Moses, and his brother, Aaron. Giving them instructions as to the leaving of this place of slavery. I like how verse one sets up this conversation. Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron IN THE LAND of Egypt. God spoke right down into the dark place where His people were being held captive. He these two to get ready because independence day was a coming. So what does this have to do with us today? Well, if your trapped in sin, no matter what your sin is, God is speaking to you. He is reaching out to you to break free of the captivity and bondage your sin has held you in. Of course, being a recovery church, our main concern is the darkness and death of addiction.
Addiction is a nasty task master. Addiction is cunning, baffling, and powerful.....and if you don't watch out.......it is patient and will wait to attack you in an effort to bring you back under bondage. But the verse I want you to see this morning is that when you reach out to God for salvation from this dark life, God will reset your calendar. You see in verse 2 of Exodus twelve we read the following, "This month shall be the first month of the year to you." He was going to give them a fresh start to this new life. No more measuring the days by what took place in the past. The same is true today, only it's not a calendar that God resets, it is you.
When you come to Him to be saved, delivered and healed, He changes you! Read the words to II Corinthians 5:17..."Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new." God came to lead a nation of people out of the darkness of slavery......Jesus came to die for and lead you out of the darkness of sin.
If you are still struggling today, why not talk to God. I know, if you not use to talking to God, it all seems pretty foolish. Well, it isn't. He is real, and His desire is to hear from you. Ask Him to save you from your sin and deliver you into a new life. Confess to Him what you have done and how you lived your life according to your desires and wants. Ask for His forgiveness since you rejected Him in the past. Invite Christ into you life, your heart, your mind.....every portion of who you are. Find yourself a good meeting to go to, so you can connect with others who are on this journey in recovery. Hold on! It's going to be the greatest adventure you've ever taken.
While the world is proclaiming "Happy New Year" today....I will proclaim to you this morning "Happy New Life!!".
God on you.....
Michael B.
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