This Year Will Be the Same as the Last!

Be Strong, Be Well — Friday, January 8, 2021

Surely not! I hope this year is going to be way different from last year.” Maybe not in every detail, but the truth is, this year will be the same as the last one.

Last year, we all made mistakes. We all sinned in some way. We will make mistakes and sin again this year. Maybe we already have. After all, we’re into this year just over a week now. It’s not our intention. We don’t plan to mess up and sin. Unfortunately, we can’t deny this has been a reality since we became accountable to God for our actions (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8,10).

We fail. We fall. We sin, just like last year. And just like last year, forgiveness is still available. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin...If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7, 9).

So just like last year, we will be spending a lot of time in Bible study, strengthening our faith (Romans 10:17) so we might not sin against our God and Father. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).

We’ll spend more time in prayer, confessing our sins and weaknesses, and begging God’s forgiveness through the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

How grateful we are again this year, for the constant love, grace, and mercy of Almighty God. What a marvelous privilege and honor it is, even though we fail so often, to know we are still heaven bound! —Chris