2023 - The Year of the Best : Pastor Tony Samuels

Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve. - Colossians 3:23-24 (AMP)

As we stand on the first day of a brand new year, we must remind ourselves: if it were not for the Lord on our side, where would we be? So we enter into this new year with thanksgiving, as we look back at the past year, and see the faithfulness of God. Simultaneously, we look forward to the coming months with a high expectation, that the Lord will show Himself strong on behalf of His people.

Many times, when a word comes for the new year, it is primarily based on what the Lord is going to do for us that year; we know this to be true, and it is true for this year. But as I was praying about this, I felt like the Lord was saying that He also has an expectation that He desires from us this year. The Lord is asking this year that we give Him our best; that this year, we will not just offer the Lord what is common, but that which is uncommon. Luke 12:48 says, …For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more. I believe everyone wants God’s best, and that is available. But the bigger question is, are you ready to give Him your best?

The Lord really looks at offerings. When I talk about offerings, I’m not just talking about financial offerings; I’m talking about how you offer your life to the Lord. You must understand that everything offered is not accepted unless it is our best. Malachi 1:7-8,11 (MSG) says, “When you say, ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you’re trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn’t that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.  “I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me by bringing their best to me. They’re saying it everywhere: ‘God is greater, this God-of-the-Angel-Armies.’

These priests thought that just because they were offering something, it was acceptable; but it was unacceptable to the Lord because it wasn’t their best. Notice, it said that the worship and the altar of God was no longer a priority. Priority means: something that is considered more important than other matters; something that is very important and must be dealt with before other things. When something has priority in your life, that means it is first. Everyone and everything must wait until we meet the demands of our first priority. Unless the Lord becomes your number one priority in life, He will never get your best; He will get what is left over after you have used all your time and energy on things that have now become a priority over Him. God’s place in our life must be at the top; it must be primary, not secondary.

Mathew 6:33 (KJV): But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Notice, this Scripture illustrates that as we put God first, things will be given to us. There is a definite problem in the Body of Christ, and it is reflected in how we treat the House of God. You see, the Church is the visible manifestation of the Kingdom of God. If the Church is not a priority in your life, I guarantee you, you are not seeking first the Kingdom of God. As a consequence, you are not offering the Lord your best.

Let’s look at the offering the Lord is looking for in 2023. Romans 12:1-2 (MSG) says, So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. You receiving the best God has for your life is connected to your obedience to this Scripture. Until you completely give yourself over to God, you will never grow spiritually, and therefore your spiritual immaturity will become the wall that is blocking you from the best that the Lord has for your life. You are saved and going to heaven, but you are not receiving the best that the Lord has for you. This would be a tragedy, that something was available to you but because you wouldn’t make the necessary adjustments, you never had a chance to receive it.

The word this year is a challenging word, and I believe it is connected to the future of the world, and the future that the Lord wants to manifest in your life. We will not make it in the coming days unless we are completely sold out to Jesus. He is calling His Church deeper and closer. Let’s pray for the Church; let’s pray for each other; and let’s get into position to receive His Best. I pray this year, as you give Him your best, you will begin to receive all the best that the Lord has for your life in 2023. There’s much, much more to share, but for now, meditate on these things.

 Blessings & Happy New Year To You & Your Family!!!