What does God want from you in 2024? What is his will for the coming year?

1 Thessalonians 4:3 "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified."

It has never been your responsibility to read God’s mind and make choices that discover a path that he has laid in front of you – a path you cannot see but hope to find. If that were the case, how miserable and filled with doubt would we be!?

As the verse above reveals, God’s will is that "you should be sanctified." In the context of 1 Thessalonians, Paul was writing about the choices God wants to us make in our lives. These choices will reflect our faith in Jesus as our Savior. These choices will be based on our knowledge that Jesus has set us free from sin! These choices will be to live a holy life – to be sanctified.

In the verses that follow, Paul writes about sins we should avoid and godly virtues we should pursue. God’s will for you for 2024 is the same as always: that you seek to live your life in a way that reflects your faith in Jesus. God wants you to see who you are because Jesus’ died for you and because, through baptism, you belong to God forever. In light of his grace, God wants you to grow in the way you live as his child. It will, at times, be a struggle to live according to God's will because of sin and sinful habits. Don't give in because it is difficult but embrace the struggle. God's grace will give you strength and encouragement to grow as his child.

That leaves the door open to many wonderful and God-pleasing choices. Serve and love and be God’s representative in 2024. Through faith in Jesus, that is God’s will for you.

 

Pastor Aufdemberge

Pastor Kneser

Pastor Wempner

Pastor Zarling