If December’s news headlines are anything to go by the challenges facing our daily existence seem set to continue unabated in 2025. Unpredictability seems to be the theme for the start of this New Year: whether it’s the growing erratic behaviour of our weather systems, causing terrible loss of life and destruction of homes; or the speed at which democratic Governments are coming or going; or the seemingly endless, mindless grind and destruction of war in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere.
How will you Thrive in 25? King Solomon spoke wisely all those years ago when he said, “Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself – glorious life!” During his ministry Jesus explained what ‘thriving’ really means. When he was talking to people he said “I’ve come so you can have real and eternal life, more and better life than you ever dreamed of!”
Do you want to Thrive in 25? The whole purpose of that first Christmas was for God to demonstrate his fulness in human form – the reality that ‘God is with us’. It was an act of love, which declares his love for you and me, even today. And he longs to know us more and bless us in the here and now, in ways we never thought possible, and it’s his desire that by his grace he’ll be at work in us daily, transforming us into the perfect likeness of Jesus.
Paul wrote to the Galatians about this ‘with God’ life: “But what happens when we live with God this way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
With this ‘with God’ life you can be sure to ‘Thrive in 25’.
Best wishes for this New Year
Tim Heeley
Keyworth Baptist Church
The Message version of the Bible was used above.