The month of January is about new goals, resolutions, or plans; some are short term, medium term, or long term.
God is a God of planning, goals, objectives, and precise purpose. We see the story about the creation in the Book of Genesis, as well as man’s falling, the promise of redemption and victory, and the promise to Abraham. In the Book of Exodus we find God’s plan and objectives to free his people from slavery. In the Book of Joshua we find the conquest of the Promised Land. In 1 Samuel the amazing story about King David. A bit forward, we see how God’s plan continues to redeem man through prophets, one of these was Isaiah. In the four Gospels, the amazing story of Zechariah, the amazing story of Jesus’ birth; God’s plan in Jesus’ life to fulfill the promise from Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between the offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”. The powerful story of Jesus’ resurrection and His ascent into heaven. In Daniel 2:44, the establishment of God’s kingdom, planned many years before and announced by God, and its fulfillment in the Book of Acts, 2.
In the New Testament we see God’s calling of Jesus with purpose, goals, clear objectives to leave everything behind; Mathew 4:18-22, “18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake for they were fishermen. 19-Come, follow me,-Jesus said,- and I will send you out to fish for people-. 20At once they left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James, son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”
Paul encourages us by saying: “12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:12-14.
What things in your life would you have to leave behind to follow Jesus? God has always had a plan, goal, and clear objectives, what are yours to love God and love others?
