New Years Eve 2023

Missing the Forest for the Trees
December 31, 2023
Bailey Burrus, Connections Minister, The Branch @ Farmers Branch

Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Three Parts

• The first part is our need to fit things into our human rationale on our terms.

John Milton
When we speak of knowing God, it must be understood with reference to man’s limited powers of comprehension. God, as He really is, is far beyond man’s imagination, let alone understanding. God has revealed only so much of Himself as our minds can conceive and the weakness of our nature can bear.

• The second part is how we approach the Spirit.

Romans 8:7 (ESV)
… the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God … .

Romans 7:24b (ESV)
Who will deliver me from this body of death?

• Finally, the third part is how we are expecting to reach the Kingdom of Heaven.

1 Corinthians 4:20 (ESV)
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

Psalms 103:2-5 (NIV)
… forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
… redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
… satisfies your desires with good things … .

Psalms 116:17 (ESV)
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.

Martin Luther
The highest of all God’s commands is this; that we ever hold up before our eyes the image of his dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. He must daily be to our hearts the perfect mirror, in which we behold how much God loves us and how well, in his infinite goodness, as a faithful God, he has grandly cared for us in that he gave his dear Son for us. Do not let this mirror and throne of grace be torn away from before your eyes.