New Year’s

God has given us a wide range of freedom in which to use our power of choice. We live within a broad arrow of options. As long as our choices fall within the limits of that arrow, we are moving along toward the Lord’s intended destiny for us. The garden in Genesis 2 pictures our circumstance before our Creator. Adam and Eve could eat the fruit from countless trees; they were to leave just one of them alone.

We are looking forward to a new year of making a living and enjoying other activities. James (4:13-15) tells us to preface such intentions with “if God will.” God has an overriding will in such matters because, for example, there are ways of making a living that depart the values the faith calls for. It is conceivable in an individual person’s case that God may have a more specialized purpose. If so, of course, his leading will be explicit enough to make that clear.

The night before his crucifixion, Jesus demonstrated the principle. After praying that the “cup” of crucifixion be taken away, he honored the Father’s overriding will by saying, “Not my will but yours be done.” That mentality carried on through the events the next day.

When we observe the emblems today that memorialize those events of yesteryear, we agree in our own situation to Christ’s sentiments displayed in them. We submit our considerable freedom to the overriding will of God.

This year we keep our choices within the bounds of freedom under the principle “if the Lord is willing, I’ll do this or that.”