Matthew 3.2 records, his message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”

It’s a new year when we make new goals in order to be more, accomplish more or achieve more. When Jesus came, John says the Kingdom of God came, and when God came, it was time for people to change.

What is the single biggest change God was looking for? A restored relationship with Himself where people call Him Father and He calls them sons and daughters.

The problem is people are broken from Him and separated from Him due to our inherent sin. Our DNA molecule that was in us as created images of God is dead and must be restored. This restoration is a process of being born again by the Spirit. Until this Spiritual birth occurs people relate to God and one another out of ignorance, selfishness and brokenness. But God has appeared, revealing the will of God as the Word of God so that we can do the works of God.

The first change we are required to do is to repent. We are to turn from dead means for appeasing God and instead receive His gift of pardon through the works of Jesus. We are to turn from living self absorbed lives to God centered lives. We are to acknowledge our brokenness and turn to Jesus for restoration.

Second, we are to change our pursuit. Instead of accumulating earthly treasure that cannot last we are to accumulate heavenly treasure for eternal reward. This treasure is earned through loving God and loving our neighbor as our self.

Love is most expressed to God by working to see His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven by loving our neighbor through sharing Jesus with them so that they gain eyes to see God, ears to hear God and freedom to serve God. We love people most and best when we help people know and love Jesus with their best.

January 2018 represents a time for new beginnings, new goals and new objectives. The best goal we can make is to obey God more by helping more people obey God.