Begin with a good deed

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January 1 is always an important day, especially when it’s the first day of a new decade. 

What are your thoughts as you contemplate the next ten years?

I’ve been especially contemplative this year. This decade will mark a great deal of change in our lives. But then, we could say that about every decade as we look back. 

I’m not sure why we mark so much of our lives by a calendar. It’s just in our human natures to measure and value time.

The world keeps turning

King Solomon offered this wisdom at the end of his life: “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Solomon was writing about the cyclical qualities of our world. The sun rises and sets. The rivers run to the oceans, and then the rain comes and the water returns to the land. Seasons come and go. 

King Solomon watched Jerusalem change almost every day. The city was built and transformed under his leadership. Interestingly, the man who said “there is nothing new under the sun” saw change almost every day. 

But, at the end of his life, he called those types of changes “meaningless.” 

God has never changed 

Of course, we will be amazed at the changes that occur in this decade. There will be new technologies, new leaders, new styles, and new trends. We will also mark time as we watch our kids and grandkids age. Our bathroom mirrors will reflect the passage of time. 

This is a changing world, and it always has been. But, the things that matter most will still be the same: 

  • The seasons will still come, go, and return.
  • People will still need salvation through Jesus Christ.
  • The Word of God will still be pure and perfect truth.
  • Eternity will still be our hope and our promise.

It is January 1, 2020. Changes will come in this next decade, but the most important things in life are unchanging. You, and everyone you know, will still need a daily, Spirit-led walk with God. 

That is what mattered most on January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2010, and it is the most important thing today. 

Begin the year with a “good deed” 

I didn’t “ask” you to help this ministry as a year-end gift. A week ago, Jim and I sat together and wrote our checks to the various ministries we support, including our own. If you gave to the Denison Forum, you helped my ministry too. 

But, I also know that I have a lot of readers who are exclusive to this blog. I didn’t do a “year-end” ask because I wanted to take a “year-beginning” approach. You know the gifts you gave at the end of 2019. I would ask you to consider your first gift of the year. Will you make a gift to the unchanging needs in our world? 

Confession time: I just spent $80 to purchase a skin-care treatment that promises I will look younger by Valentine’s Day. Time marches on, and the bathroom mirror is a reminder of that. I’ll let you know if the treatment worked out! I know I can’t stop the changes, but I don’t mind spending some money to slow things down just a bit.

But, the point of my confession is this: it made me realize that if every one of my readers gave that same amount to this ministry, we would be able to reach thousands of new subscribers with the Word of God.

Those bottles of skin treatment will run out, and, let’s face it, ten years from now I’m going to look older because I will be older. But who will be walking with God because of the checks I wrote to ministries? Who will have the hope of heaven? 

Whose children will be reached and led to faith because Mom, Dad, Grandma, or Grandpa had the knowledge of God to share? 

Happy New Year / New Decade 

A lot of change will take place in this new decade but not the things that matter most. 

My favorite verses from Ecclesiastes are the last two of the book. King Solomon closed his final words of wisdom saying, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 NIV). 

Will you make your first gift of the new year a “good deed?” 

Our ministry will use what you give to speak biblical truth to a culture that needs it now—and always will. It is what matters most

Thank you for caring, for giving, and for helping us to fulfill our call to share God’s truth. Whatever else changes in the next decade, the need for this ministry will continue. People will always need a biblical perspective for the changing culture.

Make your first deed of the new year a “good deed.” We will faithfully honor your gift and use it for God’s good purpose.

Happy New Year, happy new decade, and may the Lord bless you each day with his holy guidance. It is a blessing to walk this journey with you.

Posted by Janet Denison

Janet Denison teaches others to live an authentic faith through her writing, speaking, and teaching ministry. She blogs weekly at JanetDenison.org and often at ChristianParenting.org. She is also the author of The Songs Tell the Story and Content to Be Good, Called to Be Godly, among other books. Janet and her husband, Dr. Jim Denison, live in Dallas, Texas. When they’re not writing or ministering to others, they enjoy spending time with their grown children and their four still-growing grandchildren.