Don’t fall into the same old traps.
In the beginning God created man in his own image. Perfect, and without blemish or fault. It is much like this New Year, which is laid out before you with a world of possibilities. Then you are lead to believe a lie, or an untruth. Now what you do with that knowledge is up to you. Whether or not you act upon that knowledge or walk away is your decision. Eve didn’t walk away, she not only listened to the lie, but she acted on it, in the form of disobedience to her creator. Then she compounded the felony by giving a piece of the forbidden fruit to Adam. He in turn chose to eat it instead of throwing it away and stopping Eve. Add insult to injury, when they were called out by God, first they hid, then Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the Serpent. Thus the first passing of the Buck was instituted.
You have a nice new calendar in front of you. What will you do this year? Lie, entice others to sin? Hide from God instead of taking your troubles to him? Blame others for your shortcomings? I have a better idea:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
By following these Bible verses found in Philippians, we could have a great New Year. Avoiding all the old traps, and the things that made the old year seem attractive, but unprofitable, both morally and in life advancements. Another way to have a great New Year is hold each other accountable. Adam was with Eve when she was enticed by the serpent. He could have and should have stopped her, and they should have walked away. But they wanted to be something they weren’t, losing the opportunity to walk daily with God in a beautiful garden, having everything they would ever need. Their envy cost them more than just having to work the ground for their food, and labor during child-birth, it cost them a close relationship with their Creator. They were cast out of the garden in shame.
But the love of God prevailed, and he sent his son to be born, to pay for the sin that caused our separation. Making it possible for us to have a relationship with the Creator again, becoming his children. It is our choice, just like it was Adam and Eve’s choice in the garden. Call upon the name of the Lord and thou shall be saved. Let’s make this New Year all it can be!
As parents we need to teach our children that they have choices and those choices have consequences. Teach them to take the responsibility for their actions and not to pass the Buck, or blame. Read the Word together.
We as authors sometimes have our hero’s or heroines hit bottom because of someone else. When, if the truth be told, they accepted the fruit willingly, but didn’t like the fallout which ensued. This year let’s strive to have those overcome bad decisions, not pass the blame onto others.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1:27
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Genesis 3:4
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Genesis 3:12-13