Encouragement for Life

On the first day of the new year, I was rudely awakened by the loud alert from my mobile phone.

The weather folks were alerting me that an imminent weather event was about to happen; icy roads and nearly zero visibility!  If I had been driving, that would have been a welcome warning.  But I was sleeping and didn’t appreciate being awakened at 1:30 a.m.!  And then again at 2:30 a.m.!  I heard the next day about many accidents on the Interstate. I wondered if people didn’t receive the warning or just ignored it hoping for the best? Or, like me, just annoyed by it?

That alert reminded me that God has given us many warnings in His Word. Warnings that should not be ignored. Warnings that must be heeded for our own salvation and welfare. All through the Old Testament God warned the people about the consequences of disobedience. Noah warned the people about a disastrous flood, but only his family was saved in the ark. The nations of Israel and Judah were taken into captivity by their enemies because they did not follow God’s commands. 

Jesus told the parable of the wise and foolish builders to warn us we must not only listen to His words, but we must obey them. (Matthew 7:24-27) He taught His disciples about humility by reminding them unless they become like little children they would never enter the kingdom of God.  He went on to warn anyone who would  cause a little child to sin. He said it would be better for that person to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Matthew 18:1-6)

The Apostle Paul warns us in Philippians 2 to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (verse 3).  Ouch! That hits my heart! I cannot say I consistently do that. Sometimes “self” gets in the way of serving others as I should. 

Other warnings from New Testament writers:  Renounce ungodliness: Romans 8:12-17 and Titus 2:12-13. Resist the devil: James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5-8-9. This list could go on. 

We must live with our lives focused on God and His Word. The Holy Spirit lives in us (Christians) to help us along the way. The Holy Spirit will convict us when we stray. Are we listening? 

Let us heed God’s warnings and be shining stars in this New Year of 2026!

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. . .” (Philippians 2:12-16a).