Then [Jesus] said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” (Matthew 13:51 NKJV)
For many, the New Year is an opportunity to embrace change. Today, we are sixteen days into this year. I wonder… How many people have already reverted to their “old” ways of doing things in this “new” year. As believers, there is value in much of the “old”. We honor traditions that encourage our faith and motivate us to a deeper walk in faith. But grasping the “old” too tightly can actually be a hindrance to what the Lord is calling us to do. Focusing too much on traditions or “the way we always do things” can cause us to neglect many wonderful and encouraging opportunities. As a church, it is so easy to look to and to rely upon the past. But God calls us to be people that neither grow weary of the “old” nor fear the “new”. This year let us challenge ourselves to embrace the new – new people, new ministries, new ways – while we still uphold the old… If we will do that – we will be blessed and we will be a blessing to others.
Pastor Matthew
January 16, 2023
