"...at the beginning of the year...on that same day the hand of the Lord was upon me..."

-Ezekiel 40:1

After being deported to Babylon in 597 B.C., the prophet Ezekiel often found the hand of the Lord upon him. Amid the isolation and oppression of captivity, he became a vessel of God's truth. The expression of the hand speaks of the power of the Spirit of God to reveal to the prophet the future and enable him to communicate that truth. What a wonderful way for Ezekiel to begin the New Year. Things had not gone well for Ezekiel in his homeland, and neither have they for us. We are witnessing the growing rejection and intolerance of Christianity coupled with widespread apostasy in the church and moral decay throughout our land. However, despite all this, God through His Word by the Spirit has revealed to us the future. And what a glorious future for all who believe in Christ Jesus! He has also empowered us by His Spirit to communicate biblical truth, especially the Gospel, which is to be proclaimed to all men. Therefore, rising above our circumstances with "the hope of eternal life" and with "great boldness in our speech" to "proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light," we begin the New Year. Be encouraged!

References: Ezekiel 40:1; Titus 3:7; 2 Corinthians 3:12; 1 Peter 2:9