A New Year’s Perspective January 7, 2026
A new year and new beginnings. We all hope for a better year every January. It’s a 50/50 chance that a new year will be an improvement or live up to our expectations.
It comes down to what we live for; the ultimate purpose of our lives. It’s one of two things: we live for ourselves chasing the values of this changing and corrupt world, or we live for God seeking to know Him in Christ and obeying the best we can.
Paul writes: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21. His whole purpose in life was to know and serve Jesus Christ no matter the cost. He lived to develop and promote kingdom values and to store up treasures in heaven. He wanted to take as many people with him to the Kingdom of God as possible. Is that your desire also? Do you seek to walk closer to God and are you perusing it? What are you doing to walk closer to God this year?
Paul, writing from prison added: ‘to die is gain.’ How can death be positive? For the follower of Jesus Christ death is the doorway to eternal life. It’s when we enter the Kingdom of God or the Church Triumphant, and leave the troubles of this world behind. 1 John 3:2-3 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. If you are not ready to die you are not ready to lives or face 2026. To know Christ as savior is to have no fear of death; then you can confidently devote yourself to what really counts, to what has eternal value and without the fear of death.
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
Sunday 11, 9:00 Morning worship and Sunday school.
Today, Confirmation test.
Annual reports due January 25.
Past communiques and sermons can be read and heard on our website: www.pilotknob.org and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PilotKnobLutheran
Our service also airs on: KGLO 1300 AM at 10:00 AM, and KIOW 107.3 FM at 7:00 AM. Spread the word.
If you have an article or God sighting you would like to share with the congregation please submit it for publication in the Briefings.pastorbob@pilotknob.org
