Pastor's Ponderings, January 5, 2015

We Are Resolute in 2015

In Nigeria, a thirteen-year-old girl says “her father gave her to Boko Haram extremists and that she was arrested after refusing to explode a suicide bomb in Kano, Nigeria's second largest city in the north.” This girl decided that because of seeing people buried alive and in spite of the promises of paradise if she killed herself, she was determined and refused while two of her companions complied and died. 

In the Bible there was another young lady who made a decision with life-threatening implications.  Esther defended the Jews from extermination by going to the king.  She declared, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).  She pushed past her fear and God gave her favor with the King.

It is easy to give up on our vision and our goals when there are major obstacles in our path.  Friends may fail in our moments of need, relatives may turn their backs upon us, employers may downsize us, and our health conditions may cause us to forget our vision.

But I believe that in 2015, we must be resolute or determined to complete the tasks that we have been given.  Perhaps you started a degree program, are struggling in business, working on difficult family relations or any goal or objective this year.  This is not the time to throw in the towel or to say that you cannot do it.  This is the time to say that you can do everything through Christ who gives you the strength (Philippians 4:13).

This year let us be resolute!

Esther 4:16
New International Version (NIV)

16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Philippians 4:13
New International Version (NIV)

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.