“Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.” Acts 1:21-23 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/act.1.22-23.NIV

When God created humanity, He told them to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth, and to subdue it. He intended to have a world where He was recognized as God and loved by His creation with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When we rebelled, and He began His restoration of us through Abraham, God promised His people would be a blessing to all nations. When God Himself came to earth as one of us to become our Savior, the only means for our reconciliation with God, He chose men whom He designated disciples and apostles to become fishers of men. When Jesus sent His Holy Spirit, God Himself, to live within His people, the disciples instinctively knew the ultimate purpose of God on earth and God in man was to witness to Jesus so that all people might be reconciled to God. The work of every Christian, our personal mission, is the Great Commission. Our culture reflects our obedience to this work. We have been afraid of men and greedy for the things of this world to the demise of our nation. We must repent and return to our mission. A new year causes us to make new commitments. Let us commit to praying for those we know without a personal relationship to God in Jesus the Savior. Let us build our relationships with these people to create greater opportunities and courage to share Jesus with them and make disciples by inviting people to walk with us through the Bible, getting to know Jesus better so that collectively, we obey Him more. Let us come more alive in Christ in 2025.