Wishing all of you a Happy New Year! I pray 2025 will be a better year for all of you (us) even if your year was blessed and prosperous beyond your expectations last year.

What is the first thing you think about when you hear “new?”  Google states “not existing before; made, introduced or discovered recently or now for the first time.” It can also mean “already existing but seen, experienced, or acquired recently or now for the first time.”

It is interesting to note that there are two Greek words translated in our New Testament by the word “new.” Kainos is “new in kind and in contrast to what previously existed, so taking the place thereof. In that sense, kainos looks backward, while its synonym Neos looks forward.” We will look at a few scriptures that will bring understanding and enlightenment.

Of course, the most obvious “new” is “to draw a contrast with the old.” Jesus’ teaching was considered by those who heard Him to be new compared to what they had heard from their religious leaders until He manifested in the flesh. Jesus’ words brought hope, light, and life to the hearers. He offered them a new way of life, a new beginning when they put their trust in Him. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) I love this verse from Ezekiel 11:19 “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” And then there is the promise at the very end of Revelation 21:4-5 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” That is our future – what we have to look forward to, but we have been given a treasure chest full of new goods that we have access to now, in this age we are currently living in.

Many people make promises, vows, or plans to start over or afresh at the beginning of a calendar year. I try to set aside some time before the first of a new year to see what the Lord is speaking to me concerning the new year to come. As I stated last week, He has kept these instructions fairly simple the last two years (compared to other years where I had more specific and detailed plans).

“To everything, there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-5)  Just as four distinct seasons have certain characteristics as well as expectations from previous seasons, so too, our lives have similar times of summer, fall, winter, and spring. No two years are the same in the way that season manifests – in length, intensity, and other varying factors. So, in a sense, we get to start all over with each new season.

We are exhorted in Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Paul exhorts the Colossian believers with similar words, going into a little more detail on what to “put off” the old man and what to “put on” the new man. (see Colossians 3)

We are under a new covenant because of Jesus’ sacrifice. No longer do the blood of bulls and goats cover our transgressions (Passover) because Jesus’ blood was sacrificed and was applied to the Mercy Seat in heaven. This new covenant includes healing and deliverance as well as the remission of our sins. (Matthew 26:28).  For further insight read Hebrews 8:7-13.

Jesus, during His last meal with His closest friends, was talking very candidly since it would be His last opportunity before His sacrificial death to impart something to them of value. Immediately after He gave Judas the choice morsel of bread, the bread of friendship thus identifying His betrayer and Judas left to go betray Him, He spoke some of the most important words they would ever hear. In this context He said “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) He had demonstrated to them over the last 3 ½ years what that should look like and showed Judas great love until the very end of his life. Judas had been with Him the whole time and saw what unconditional love looked like and yet chose to betray Jesus anyway. Jesus knew from the very beginning that would happen, yet He treated Judas no differently than any of the other disciples.

Each one of us has the opportunity to renew our relationship with the Lord every day. We can start the day fresh or “new.” Every person has the opportunity to put the past behind us and begin with a new, fresh start. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  (Isaiah 43:18-19) “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) I sing the song that was written from that text often because I have experienced that renewal over and over again. “New every morning is Your wonderful love, bathing my spirit in peace from above. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. New every morning is Your great love for me.”