Godly Goals
for the New Year
From congregational readings in Isaiah 58-64 Dec 30,
2007 – bk@kluth.org
1) Help the needy
Isa
58:6-9 (The LORD says) "Is not this the kind of
fasting I have chosen:
to loose the
chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke? Is it not to share
your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--when
you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and
blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and
your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and
the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you
will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
James
1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure
and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and
to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
2) Honor the LORD’s day
Isa
58:13-14 (The LORD says) "If you keep your feet
from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you
call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor
it by not going your own way and not
doing as you please or speaking idle words,
then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on
the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father
Jacob."
3) Humbly tell others about God
Isa
63:7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the
deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for
us--yes, the many good things he has done…
1
Peter 3:15-17 In your hearts
set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who
asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with
gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak
maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their
slander.
4) Hear from God daily
Isa
63:14 (God’s people in the wilderness) were given
rest by the Spirit of the LORD. This is
how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.
Job
23:12 I have not departed from the commands of his
lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Ps
119:15-18 I meditate on your precepts and consider your
ways. I delight in your decrees; I will
not neglect your word. Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your
word. Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
Ps
119:37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve
my life according to your word.
5) Honestly expect God to work in & through your
life
Isa
64:4-5 For since the world
began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for
those who wait for him! You welcome those who cheerfully do good, who follow
godly ways. But we are not godly. We are
constant sinners, so your anger is heavy on us. How can people like us be
saved? We are all infected and impure with sin…And yet, LORD, you are our
Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your
hand. Oh, don't be so angry with us, LORD. Please don't remember our sins
forever. Look at us, we pray, and see that we are all your people.
Rom
6:22-23 Now
you are free from the power of sin and are slaves of God, and his benefits to
you include holiness and everlasting life. For the wages of
sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
FREE SERMON CD's & CASSETTES are available on the lobby table
after the
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