For many people, the beginning of the year is a time to reflect and set resolutions for the coming year. The challenge is discerning what goals will reap the greatest benefit at the end of the year – and beyond. Here is a devotion that expands our perspective for the discernment process:

IN WORD – We live in a physical world. We have material bodies that we feed with material nourishment in order to sustain ourselves to do material work, from which we earn material money and buy material possessions. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s unavoidable; this is the dimension God has placed us in.
But we were designed to function in other dimensions too, and when we come into His Kingdom, we regain that capacity. We think thoughts by the Spirit, influence both material and spiritual realms, and begin to see life not as “sacred” and “secular” but as all-encompassing under our King. And we have the ability to invest in eternity. How is that possible? When we become Kingdom citizens, our abilities and possessions become Kingdom property.
We can leverage the very visible things of this world for spiritual purposes. We can transform temporary blessings into lasting investments. We can take the substance of one realm and leverage it for the benefit of the other. We can sow seeds that will never stop bearing fruit.
IN DEED – Think about that. In this age, we marvel at how early investments in our twenties can multiply into substantial benefits in our seventies and eighties. But our investments in God’s Kingdom never cease to multiply throughout eternity. They bear fruit upon fruit upon fruit, in this age and the age to come. That’s why Jesus tries to shift our priorities. The investments we make in the material world are subject to damage, theft, and a wavering market. The investments we make in the Kingdom are safe, secure, and forever increasing. Wherever we invest our hearts, our treasures will follow. And if our hearts are rooted in eternal realities, our treasures never end. “The world says, ‘The more you take, the more you have.’ Christ says, ‘The more you give, the more you are.’” – Frederick Buechner (in “Heaven on Earth” by Chris Tiegreen)

What kind of fruit will your resolutions and goals bear for 2025? Will they be temporary and only for this world, – or will they be eternal and forever increasing? Take time to read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount this week, found in Matthew 5-7 and Luke 12. Reflect on each section and ask yourself where you are building up “treasure.” Then ask the Holy Spirit for help to make good and wise investment decisions. Have a blessed week! – from Singapore, Pastor Sam