What Do I Need For The Year Ahead?

Saturday, 6 January 2024 by

Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 31 December 2023

What Do I Need For The Year Ahead?

The end of the year, another one stretching out ahead. Resolutions are considered, the goodness of food and family at Christmas enjoyed, and there is time to sit and ponder and consider: What do I need for the year ahead? God issues an invitation to his mob—and the world at large—to come and gain ‘wisdom’ - the knowledge that helps you understand the world and what steps are need to navigate it. At the heart of wisdom is relationship—with God, through Jesus. And this wisdom is gained through relationship—through the words of God, cross-generationally, through households. And this wisdom is applied daily—in situations from daily life through to global politics. What do I need for the year ahead? I need wisdom!

Scripture References: Proverbs 1:1-7, Psalms 49:1-20, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

From Series: "Miscellaneous"

More From "Miscellaneous"

Powered by Series Engine

Sunday, 7 December 2025
What Will It Take?
from Bernard Gabbott
The Passover is one of the seminal moments in God’s commitment to reverse the curse of sin in this world. It is the climax of His work to save His people from Egypt – for people to know Him, for His ‘firstborn son’ to be saved, for them to dwell with Him and be His people. In this sense, the last of the signs and wonders is both a salvation and a preparation. As the LORD sweeps over Egypt, delivering His judgement of death on those who have refused Him, in each of the households of His people, a perfect lamb has died. This lamb’s death is a substitute for God’s firstborn son, taking the judgement of death. This lamb’s blood protects God’s people, preparing them to be acceptable to live with God. As God’s mob obediently do as He commanded, they are trusting in His provision – they are trusting in His kind mercy. And so, they are both saved out of Egypt, and they are made acceptable to dwell with the God who has visited this world. Can you think of any other event that is similar to this?
Sunday, 30 November 2025
Why Does God Judge His Enemies?
from Trace Akankunda
Last week we considered why God saves His people. But God’s salvation and judgement often go hand in hand. Indeed God’ s judgement of His enemies is often the means by which He saves His people. In Exodus 7:8-10:29, we are given three reasons why God judges the Egyptians; To reveal Himself to the world, to display His power and authority and humble both His enemies and His people. The implication for God’s enemies is that they should repent and turn to Him for salvation while His people should learn to serve Him in humility because they recognise that except by His miraculous power, no one can be saved from his judgement.
Sunday, 23 November 2025
Why Does God Save His People?
from Trace Akankunda
Why does God save His people? There are several reasons that the Bible gives for God saving His people; to rescue us from sin, because of his mercy and goodness towards us, because He loves us, to spare us from his judgement, to restore our broken world. All these are right reasons for God saving His people, but they are deficient. They are deficient because they reduce God’s saving purpose to our comfort. In Exodus 5:1-7:7, God lifts our eyes beyond ourselves and shows us that the primary reason He saves His people is to reveal himself so that He might be worshipped by all.