Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38 The New Year is here, and it's a good time to jump off the gerbil wheel and step into a life of effectiveness! Humanity is looking for an answer, and just as they did in the time of the early church, they are asking, "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37b). In this time of unrest and change, the world is poised for harvest. We need to be ready to reply, as Peter did, with the saving message of the Gospel.

The preaching of the Gospel is found in your daily living. That is why you "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7b). The miracle of the early church was the participation and proper working of every part. Believers in the Book of Acts epitomized accuracy and effectiveness because they realized the power of a life dedicated wholly to Jesus. As it was then, so it is now. We are a people of purpose, created for good works (Ephesians 2:10). The ripple effect of your life—one person obeying God—has the potential to change the world.

Fight the fight. Fight complacency. Fight the temptation to veer into stagnant waters. Avoid secondary issues that keep you running in endless circles, and be deliberate in your pursuit of the call. As we discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness, God will navigate us into the deep blue water of His plan.

God is going to do something good through your life. Peter was the cussing fisherman that God took out of stagnancy and moved into effectiveness. Before Jesus ascended, He told the disciples, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). I'm believing God for this region and all of America to be touched by the power of God and for the Word to go out of this place to every nation. Step out with me and let's pursue God's plan.

Happy New Year!
Pastor Jeff







© 2007 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.