This year can be a year like no other year. For each one of us 2022 can be a year of new beginnings, new blessings and new breakthroughs. This year can be the most fulfilling, fruitful and far reaching year of your life. This can be the year when the prayers of many years are answered when God suddenly breaks into our lives, families, churches and nations with great mercy, miracles and multiplication. The best way to prepare for this year is to start as we mean to go on. Just as you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so too we should take this opportunity to start this year with the best foundation.

We cannot foresee every opportunity or challenge that lies ahead but we can be sure that God is faithful to all His promises and that we can be more than conquerors through Christ who loves us and has called us to His kingdom. At the start of this year we should take some time to consecrate and dedicate ourselves to God. Joshua told the Israelites to do just that for he knew that God was about to do amazing things as they advanced into the land of Promise.

1. Put God first (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 22:36-40)
a. The beginning of each day
b. The beginning of each decision (Proverbs 3:5-6)
c. The beginning of each relationship; at the beginning of courtship, marriage and family life
2. Keep your first love (Revelation 2:1-7; )
a. First love involves a personal experience with the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7)
b. First love is always passionate to spread the gospel (Acts 19:10)
c. First love pays a price (Acts 19:18-20)
d. First love perseveres (Acts 20:20; Deuteronomy 6:5)
3. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)

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Is God really first place in every area of your life? God was there right at the start of life and the universe (Genesis 1:1). Everything in creation followed on from that. The blessings of life, the blessings of nature, the blessings of rest, the blessings of relationship with God and between a man and a woman. What you believe about the beginnings of our world is crucial. Get it wrong here then you get it wrong everywhere. If you believe in creation, then you have can have faith that God has a purpose for His world, that He is capable of creating order out of chaos, that people are made in the image of God and that each life must be respected and treated well in accordance with God’s character and laws. If, however you believe in evolution, then there are no absolute moral laws and no God to be accountable to. Life is a rat race where only the toughest survive, a series of random events and a limited existence where you have no hope beyond this life. ‘In the beginning God’ means that God must be at the centre of our worldview and we are to worship Him above all the gods of this world (money, power, fame, sex, sport and success). It means that God is our first love (Matthew 22:36-40). Practically that we put God first at the beginning of each day, which is why a habit of praying and Bible reading at the start of each day is so important. We put God first at the beginning of each decision (Proverbs 3:5-6) and first at the beginning of each relationship (of courtship, marriage and family life). Marrying the right person God has for you is so important (e.g. Abraham who focussed on getting a wife for his son who really loved God). At the start of this year take some time to evaluate how you may need to realign your life so that you really do put God first in every area. This will set you up for the rest of the year and the rest of your life.

Is God your first love or do you need to rediscover your first love for God at the beginning of this new year? The disciples in Ephesus were commended for many things that they got right (Revelation 2:1-7). God saw that there were many faithful and hardworking Christians in this church. Year by year they kept on serving God without growing weary. This church was functioning well in many ways but at heart it had lost its love for God and His kingdom, like a marriage with no romance. The first love had disappeared. This is a very dangerous situation for any marriage and any church. We can see how far this church had fallen when we read what the first love of the Ephesian Christians was really like. For first love involves a personal experience with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 19:1-7 we read about 12 disciples who understood the importance of repentance and believing in Jesus but who needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Every Christian needs to be baptised with the Holy Spirit and to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. But how much Holy Spirit do you have right now? First love means we keep living in partnership with the Holy Spirit and also first love is always passionate to spread the gospel (Acts 19:10). When you truly love Jesus, you want to tell everyone how Jesus can change them. And our world desperately needs to know this. At the start of this year let’s ask God to give us all a new passion to share the good news at all times to all people (in homes, shops, our neighbourhood, the streets, at work and leisure, and in our travels). Evangelism isn’t a programme. It’s a passion that comes from the heart. We love to tell of the love of Jesus because we are overflowing with His love. And first love pays a price (Acts 19:18-20). The apostle Paul was even ready to put his life on the line. Real Christians commit all they have to Jesus: time, talents, cash and care for others. First love is always generous and sacrificial. First love perseveres: Paul was continually teaching God’s word and forming leaders (Acts 20:20). First love never stops loving or serving and always means being a close follower of Jesus who wins and trains others to follow Him too. At the start of this year let’s evaluate if we have the love for Christ and His church that we once had. And if we don’t then let’s honestly repent and turn back to loving with all your heart and soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Are you committed this year to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? This command of Jesus comes with a promise that if we get our priorities right here then ‘everything else will be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33). In other words, if we look after God’s business, He will look after ours. God’s business is seeing His righteous kingdom expanded on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus came not only to save our souls and build His church but also to establish His new world order of living right with God and our fellow human beings. Jesus constantly taught about the kingdom of God or the Kingdom of heaven. His message was not just for some parts of life but all parts of life. The rule of God is to extend from our hearts to transform the worlds of family life, education, business, government, media, religion and culture. A true follower of Jesus is not called to focus on building their own Kingdom and pursuing their own interests but rather to seek first to promote God’s kingdom of light in a world of darkness. Whatever else you may do in life, whatever career you may have, your primary calling as a Christian is always to be an ambassador for Christ faithfully representing Him and His teaching. You may be a business leader but first as part of your lifestyle you must always seek to lead people to God and make disciples. You may be in a position of influence, but at all times you need to use your influence to shape your world for good and for God. You may make good money but above all be sure to use your money for good to support your family, spread the gospel, build the church, help the needy and change society. At a time when so many people in so many places and professions use every opportunity to passionately promote their ideologies, every Christian needs to wake up and rise up to advance Christ’s kingdom. So we are at a new moment in time that is passing fast. Thank God for all the blessings of the past but today commit to building a better tomorrow by putting God first, returning to your first love and seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Far from being outdated, the ages old message of Christmas is more needed and more relevant than ever. For it tells us that we can have love, joy, peace and hope because God is not only FOR us but also He is WITH us. Matthew, the former tax collector who became a committed follower of Jesus, records in Mathew 1:23 ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means “God with us”). God with us is what both Old and New Testaments emphasise.

Now of course, some people doubt the existence of God. Others have many different ideas about God. But the Bible is very clear that there is God and proceeds to give us a very clear picture of what God is like:

- He is the God who created heaven and the earth (Colossians 1:16).
- He is a great and mighty God: He is the most High God beyond space and time. Nothing is impossible for Him.
- He is a holy God (1Timothy 6:15-16): God is full of light. There is nothing dark, corrupt or unrighteous about God.
- He is a faithful God: He always keeps His word and can be depended on in all situations.
- He is the God whose love endures throughout all generations.
- He is the God who rules over all nations (Isaiah 40:23).
- He is the God of Israel. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
- He is the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who came down from heaven to earth (Colossians‬ ‭1:15,19-20; John 1:14).

The Bible makes clear that God came to earth as a vulnerable baby. He took on human form and limitation. He made himself accessible. He was a God who could be touched (John 20:27). God saw that we could not reach up to Him, so He reached down to us. It was impossible for us with all our imperfections, failures and sins to get to God so, as Luke 19:10 says, ‘the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost’. Jesus is the good shepherd who came looking for us. He is the great friend who wants to share life with us. Jesus was happy to celebrate at weddings. Jesus shared meals with ordinary people. Jesus visited people in their homes. Jesus relaxed with his disciples. The God of the Bible is not a God just for imposing church buildings and stained-glass windows.

Jesus came into the harsh world of sadness, stress, suffering and shame. He was not detached and remote. He himself endured betrayal, terrible abuse and violence. He died a brutal death on a Roman cross. But he also rose from the dead and left for heaven promising to come back to earth. He told his disciples to confidently go into all the world to make disciples, assuring them that he would be with us always, to the very end of the age. He said the Holy Spirit would come to us to make Jesus real to us so that His followers would never be left as orphans. Today we too can know that God is with us in our world and in our lives. We can know that:

1. God is with us to comfort us (Isaiah 40:1-2; Isaiah 53:3-4)
2. God is with us to strengthen us (Isaiah 43:2; Isaiah 40:29-31)
3. God is with us to guide us (John 16:13)
4. God is with us to deliver us (Psalm 23:4-6; Hebrews 13:5)

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Are you in need of God's comfort this Christmas? Jesus the messiah came to our world with all its hardness to bring comfort (Isaiah 40:1-2). Since Jesus knew everything about suffering, He is able to comfort people who suffer and grieve (Isaiah 53:3-4). To the question 'where is God when life really hurts?', the answer is 'right with us'. Sometimes, as at the grave of Lazarus, He is with us in our tears. ‘Jesus wept,’ is the shortest and one of the most powerful verses of the Bible. Sometimes He is walking with us when we are completely unaware of it, as happened with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Sometimes He carries us, like the good shepherd with a bewildered sheep (Isaiah 40:11). The Lord can comfort us today in many ways: through His presence, through the promises He gives in the Bible and through the love of His people. Today, in your problems and pain, you too can experience the comfort of God.

Do you need to know more of God's strength in your life? God is able to revive us and empower us so that we can make it through every struggle and storm of life (Isaiah 43:2; Isaiah 40:29-31). Whatever challenge you are facing today in your home and family, in your business, health and finances, God wants to draw near to you to strengthen and help you so that you can get up and go on and live with joy and fulfilment.

Do you need God to guide you in any situation? Are you asking the Holy Spirit to direct you in every decision you make? Just as He guided the wise men who were so desperate to find hope and meaning, so He wants to guide each one of us. When God came amongst us, He guided us through His teachings. Jesus taught how to live clean and righteous lives. He taught us how to love both our friends and our enemies. Jesus can guide us when we are young and needing to make many decisions about relationships and careers. He is with us in single life and family life. He is with us when we need to navigate the challenges of getting old. Today every one of us can be guided in the right path when we follow the teaching of Jesus, the great shepherd. Wherever decisions we have to make we will be wise to ask the Holy Spirit to direct us (John 16:13).

Do you know that God is with you right now and will deliver you from whatever difficulties you are facing? In the words of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus came to deliver us from evil in all its forms. Jesus came to save us from our sins that separate us from God so that in the words of Charles Wesley’s famous carol we can experience ‘Peace on earth and mercy mild/God and sinners reconciled.’ Jesus came to deliver us from sickness and sadness, anxiety and addictions, darkness and depression and death itself. Because Christ conquered death we too can live forever in God’s wonderful presence. Death need not separate you from the presence of God (Psalm 23:4-6). Whatever the future holds we can be sure that God will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We can know that God is with us every day and in every experience that we go through. For He is Immanuel: God with us. And that is the great message of Christmas.

The Christmas story tells of a great God who supernaturally delivers what seems naturally impossible. A key verse in understanding this story is in Luke 1:37 which says: “For nothing is impossible with God." Or as Jesus said in Mark 10:27: ‘with God all things are possible’. In other words, miracles of many kinds can happen, and they can happen for you.

You can experience miracles of healing of your emotions, your body and your mind. You can experience restoration of relationships that seemed impossible to fix. You can experience financial miracles of provision that you never imagined. You can experience a miraculous break from a sad past to enjoy a happy future. Above all you can experience the spiritual miracle of new birth where you come to know and love God. Nothing is impossible with God. Miracles can happen.

1. Miracles can happen to ordinary people
2. Miracles can happen when we have faith (Luke 1:29; Mark 11:24)
3. Miracles happen when we surrender to God (Luke 1:38)

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Do you believe that God wants to do miracles for you? Mary was young, poor, and a female with few rights. She was living in the middle of nowhere. She was not outwardly significant, just a name on a census form. Her education and her ambitions were limited. But the angel of the Lord said that she was highly favoured. A miracle greater than she could imagine was about to happen to her. This was a one-off, unique miracle to give birth to God’s only son. But she was not the only ordinary person to receive a miracle from God. The miracles that Jesus performed were mainly in the lives of people who were often ignored by society. He healed the lepers, the blind, the deaf and mute, the paralysed and demonised. All these were people who would probably have felt that there was no reason why they should expect a miracle but who were overjoyed to receive one. There is a better future for you and your family than you can imagine. Your life doesn’t have to continue as it is. You can receive miracles from God for nothing is impossible with God.

Do you have faith that God will do a miracle in your life, even if you have been waiting a long time? At first Mary was very fearful and not surprisingly she could not understand how she would be pregnant since she had not had a sexual relationship (Luke 1:29). But both she, and later Joseph, received in their hearts the words that God had given them. Long before the days of IVF treatment she believed that God could cause a seed of life to be implanted within her. Mary let go of her questions and exchanged her fear for faith. She believed that God would do what he said he would. She chose to believe that what was not possible naturally was possible supernaturally. Letting go of your doubts and having faith in God are key to receiving your miracle (Mark 11:24). Sometimes it is difficult to keep your faith especially if you have been waiting a long time for your miracle. Have faith in God for your miracles for He wants to show His favour and His mercy to you.

Are you fully surrendered to the will of God for every area of your life? Mary let go of her fears and doubts. She submitted herself to God’s will (Luke 1:38). She let God take control of her future. From that point on this ordinary girl was to receive an extraordinary blessing that would bless the world. We too must fully surrender our lives to God. For when we let God work out His plans, in His way and in His time, we will receive the many miracles He has for us.

Christmas is by far the largest celebration around the world each year. Billions of people celebrate the birth of the Christ child born so long ago in Bethlehem’s stable. Despite all the many attempts to secularise, trivialise, commercialise and even ban Christmas, the real message of Christmas will not be silenced. And that is a source of hope and joy for everyone, especially for those who find this season to be a time of stress or sadness.

Hope and joy are at the very heart of Christmas. It’s all about ‘Joy to the world’, as the carol puts it, because ‘the Lord has come’. Christianity, as we often say, is nowhere near as miserable as some Christians make out. Joy is a word that stands out as we read the Christmas story and it is a constant theme throughout the Bible. As we see in Luke 2:8-14, the Christmas message gives us good reasons to really celebrate Christmas.

1. Joy in the darkness (Isaiah 9:2-3; Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 126:5; Hebrews 1:9; Acts 13:52)
2. Joy for all (Luke 2:10-11)
3. Joy because of the good news of Jesus (Luke 2:11)

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Do you need to experience the joy of the Lord? Are you in a place of darkness in your life right now? It was at night that the lives of the shepherds were suddenly lit up with the glory of God. So often it is in the darkest times of our lives that we too can discover the light of God that gives us great joy (Isaiah 9:2-3). Experiencing joy in your time of darkness is one of the greatest realities of the Christian faith. Countless Christians have spoken of this. Maybe right now you are experiencing your first Christmas without a loved one, or you may be facing a big struggle in your health, battling depression, or bearing the scars of a very tough year. But you can experience the joy of the Lord that will be your strength (Isaiah 61:3). You can know this joy your time of trouble and beyond your troubles and your tears (Psalm 30:5; Psalm 126:5). Jesus of course knew all about trouble. He endured the cross and great opposition yet He was anointed with the oil of joy (Hebrews 1:9). The early Christians were persecuted and imprisoned yet the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52). You too can receive this anointing of joy this Christmas and it can happen suddenly and unexpectedly just as the shepherds experienced.

Are you committed to sharing the hope and joy of Jesus with all people? The Christian message of hope is a universal message (Luke 2:10-11). It’s for you and me and for everyone. It is for men and women, single and married, young and old. It is for people of every class, colour, culture, country and continent. No one is excluded. It is for the poor shepherds and the rich and educated wise men. The joy that comes from knowing Jesus is not dependent on your possessions, your position, your contacts and connections. You may or may not be able to shop at the best shops, buy the most expensive presents or be invited to exclusive gatherings. But you can have a joy that gives more satisfaction that anything money can buy. You can be joyful and content in all situations, as the apostle Paul wrote. The joy of heaven that has to earth come down, as the old hymn puts it, has no boundaries. It is for ‘all the people.’ And that’s a great reason to celebrate.

Have you personally experienced the joy of knowing Jesus? The announcement of the good news of great joy is directly linked to who Jesus is (Luke 2:11). The people of Bethlehem, then as now, had a hard life. They saw little hope for the future. They looked for the promised Messiah who would deliver them from the tyranny of Rome. But the Saviour who came would deliver them from the greatest problem they faced. He would save them from their sins that separated them from God. He would cleanse them and forgive them. He would free them from their fears. He would deliver them from evil powers that held them captive. He would change their bitter hearts and cause new life and forgiveness to spring forth within them. He would cause them to live every day as free men and women who could hold their heads up high and be everything they were born to be. He would save them from death and give them a future when they thought all was lost. At the Cross Jesus Christ laid down His life, the pure for the impure, the innocent for the guilty to save us from our sins by His shed blood. The good news is that Jesus came to save us from everything destructive, to make a way for us to spend eternity with God. Do you know how much you need Jesus? This Christmas you can discover the great joy of knowing Him. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. While He is not physically here on earth we can still experience His joy, His peace, His comfort, and His power by the presence of the Holy Spirit. When we pray to Him and seek Him, like the shepherds and the wise men did, we too will find Him. We will have great joy when we do.

Whatever you have faced this year, the Christmas story is a reminder that hope can break into your world. No matter how dark the night you may be experiencing, light can break through. Isaiah 9:2 says ‘the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.’ And the key to knowing this light is found in a child, the Son of God, who was born in a dangerous part of the Middle East over 2000 years ago.

The prophet Isaiah who foresaw the birth of the Saviour of the world many hundreds of years before said in Isaiah 9:6: ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ The Christmas story brings special focus to the life and potential of children. The story of Christmas hope begins with the birth of a vulnerable child in a stable in Bethlehem. What starts in a manger ends in an empty grave giving us hope for new beginnings, new life and a new future.

1. Every child is a gift (John 3:16; James 1:17; Matthew 19:14; Psalm 127:3 MSG & GNT; Psalm 139:13-16 MSG)
2. Every child needs watching over (Luke 2:52; Joshua 24:15; Mark 12:30)
3. Every child can discover the hope of Jesus (Matthew 1:23; Matthew 18:3-4; Luke 18:17; John 3:3)

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Do you recognise that every child is a gift? One of the most quoted verses in the Bible says: ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only and only Son' (John 3:16). Christmas is a time of giving rooted in the greatest gift this world has ever received (James 1:17). The Apostle Paul calls the gift of Jesus an ‘indescribable gift!’. It is also true that every child is a gift to the world. Jesus emphasised this by His words and actions (Matthew 19:14; Psalm 127:3). The Bible makes clear that everyone is special right from conception (Psalm 139:13-16). Yet in the Christmas story we read that instead of valuing children, the evil King Herod murdered many children in an attempt to destroy Jesus and all He represented. This was described as a time of weeping and mourning. Sadly, today we also live in a time where so many children are at risk in the womb and in the home and on land and sea. We can’t close our eyes to these realities. For sure we need heart change, culture change and world change, and this starts when we recognise that every child is a gift, for the Bible teaches that every child matters.

Are you committed to watching over your children at every age and every stage? Will you help protect children in society? Just as Jesus came to this world as a vulnerable child who needed care and protection, so all children need to be protected physically, emotionally, sexually, spiritually, mentally…in every way. Joseph and Mary presented baby Jesus at the temple and consecrated Him to the Lord from His earliest days, wanting Him to be raised within the family of God and marking His life by taking Him each year to the temple in Jerusalem. We also learn about his personal development (Luke 2:52). Each of us must take responsibility for our own lives and our own family, and model how we live life loving God (Mark 12:30; Joshua 24:15). We should cultivate: a home of worship (seeking God first in all things); a home that loves, values and obeys the Word of God; and a home that prays and has fellowship with God knowing that He is good, He is faithful and can do miracles in our lives. We should try to put this into practice in practical ways (e.g. how we use our time and money; how much we read the Bible together; playing worship music as you get ready for the school run; or encouraging each child to develop a conviction-driven daily devotional life). We must be intentional and passionate about each child’s personal development (KCI also oversees a Christian school, The King’s House School Windsor). We must be watchful of what and who they are exposed to and focus on equipping them to be wise as serpents but innocent as doves. This is even more important in the age of the internet, smartphones and social media. We must make the effort to keep a constant watch over our children at every age and every stage. It’s not always easy: even Joseph and Mary temporarily lost Jesus for three days! Thankfully they could trust the Lord with His life and He was found preaching in the temple. May our children also be raised and protected in the House of the Lord. And as church communities, we should understand that the rebuilding and re-evangelising of nations depends on us focussing on ministering to children and young people, both inside and outside of the church.

Have you discovered the hope of Jesus for yourself? Will you help share this hope with others? One on the most remarkable parts of the Christmas story is that Jesus came to the world as a child and not as a conquering king, politician or person of great wealth. Although Jesus was God in human form, He was Immanuel or God with us: He came to us in great humility (Matthew 1:23). And we too must come to God in the same way. To become a Christian, it’s necessary to stop being so independent and admit that you need God’s help. You need to stop relying on your own strength and efforts. Children often have no problem in coming to God like this, which is why so many of the greatest leaders in church history came to faith in Christ at any early age. But adults too need to put aside all pride to know the Lord (Matthew 18:3-4; Luke 18:17). Jesus said you have to change and learn like children to be a Christian. You need a new birth (John 3:3). There is so much you can learn from children: they are open and trusting, and have generous hearts. Children live in the present and are not consumed by the past or worried about the future. They may fall down but they keep getting up until they can walk. They have vivid imaginations and big dreams. God has big dreams for you too. God loves you. God wants to help you and heal you. There is hope for you whoever you are or wherever you come from. No matter your cultural background or what family you grew up in, you need to know there is hope. Hope is here. And that hope becomes real when you come with a sincere, childlike faith to Jesus who Himself came to our world as a child.

Whatever situation you may be experiencing, when you put your trust in God you are going to make it. Our studies in the book of Acts have shown us that there were many times when it looked like the apostle Paul would not make it to the capital of the powerful Roman Empire where he believed God wanted him to testify about Jesus. There were times when he looked finished, times when the road ahead looked just too difficult to carry on, times when the dream seemed over.

Yet as we reach the final part of the last chapter of Acts, we read in Acts 28:14 'And so we came to Rome'. This very matter of fact statement is actually an amazing phrase which means that despite everything Paul and his companions faced, they made it. If you have been reading through the book of Acts and following each twist and turn in the dramatic story of Paul’s turbulent travels, you will understand what a big deal this was to get to Rome. In Acts 28:12-31 we see what was involved in Paul making it to Rome and the lessons that we can learn.

1. You can overcome every challenge (1 Corinthians 11:23-29; 2 Corinthians 4:9)
2. You can receive grace for every situation (1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 1:8-10; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:11-13)
3. You can succeed in fulfilling your life’s calling (Acts 28:15-31; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; 2 Timothy 4:18)

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Do you believe the Lord will bring you through any and every challenge you are currently facing? Reading through the book of Acts it was a series of miracles that Paul ever made it to Rome. Here are just some of the battles that he had to overcome:
• His life was threatened in Damascus and Jerusalem (Acts 9:23, Acts 9:29)
• He was persecuted in Pisidian Antioch and expelled from the region (Acts 13:50)
• Stoned and left for dead in Lystra (Acts 14:19)
• Seized by an angry mob, stripped, severely flogged and imprisoned at Philippi (Acts 16:23)
• At the centre of a city-wide riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41)
• Beaten by a violent crowd in Jerusalem who were trying to kill him (Acts 21:27-30)
• Arrested and detained by the Roman authorities (Acts 22:24)
• Imprisoned for two years in Caesarea. Acts 23:33-27:2
• And that’s all before the great storm of Acts 27 and subsequent shipwreck.

When comparing his life to false leaders who were deceiving the church, Paul summarised some of the hardships that he had gone through to faithfully spread the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). It's a big roll call of troubles that he had faced and yet he had come through them all. And you too can overcome every obstacle you will face in life, no matter how difficult it may be to see a way through at the time. Right now you may be feeling overwhelmed with all that is coming at you. But the Lord will bring you through. If things look over, God will make a way through for you. You may have been knocked down but you are not knocked out (2 Corinthians 4:9). And you are not going to be. You will survive. You will come through your storm. Your problems will not overcome you. You will overcome them with the help of the Lord who never leaves us or forsakes us.

Have you learned to receive the grace and help of God in all situations? Paul was not some superhuman spiritual machine who never felt inadequate in times of trouble (1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 1:8-10). In other words, the great apostle Paul knew what it was to feel intense pressure in the trials of life, even to the point of despairing of life. But it was through such experiences that he learned a key secret: we must rely on God who has delivered us and will continue to deliver us. When he had one particular persisting trouble, which he described as a ‘thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment’ him, the Lord told him “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul learned to receive the grace and help of God in all situations (Philippians 4:11-13). God’s grace and strength are also always sufficient for each one of us, but we need to daily rely on Him. So be sure to really give your burdens to the Lord and to trust in Him with all your heart.

Do you believe that, with the Lord's help, you can succeed in fulfilling your life’s calling? Luke describes the moment that he and Paul finally arrived in Rome in early AD 60. He found that the good seeds he had sown in his letter to the believers three years before had born fruit (Acts 28:15-16). It took Paul just three days to settle in before he started ministering in Rome as he had always believed he would. As usual, he spoke first to his fellow Jews and their leaders who came in large numbers to where he was staying, and then focussed on sharing the gospel with the Gentiles (Acts 28:17-31). The story suddenly ends with Paul busy doing what he had always done: proclaiming 'the kingdom of God’ and teaching 'about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance' (Acts 28:31). We don't know why Luke finished the book of Acts here, but Acts is essentially not a history of the apostle Paul, although he figures prominently. Rather it is an account of how the gospel spread from a small group of disciples in Jerusalem and was established within a generation in the very heart of the Roman Empire, from where it would spread across the world. In other words: mission accomplished. As we see in this last reference to the apostle Paul, we must always be busy about our Master’s business of spreading the good news of God’s Kingdom. Paul knew his end was and near and that he was ready for it (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Paul faced his imminent death and promotion to heaven with hope and joy. God had never failed him in the past and He was confident that 'The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen' (2 Timothy 4:18). Paul made it through every challenge of life and he was sure that when the moment came he would make it safely to heaven. Whatever you are experiencing right now, be assured that when you have the Lord at your side, both in life and in death, you too are going to make it.