As believers, we must be consecrated and consistent as we serve the Lord. We must understand that we are remodeled to “do His pleasure,” His will and not ours. Our personal interests and preferences have no place in such situations. We must be adorned with the gab of consistent messengers that have only one goal: to declare the prophecy of God.

“Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” The angels of the Lord are consistent messengers who never disobey Him. Like them, we must be consistent in declaring the word whenever and to whoever God sends us to this New Year. We must consistently do His bidding and in His strength without any excuse. As the Lord calls us, we must serve Him and minister in the grace and power of the Holy spirit that He has given to us. We must consecrate our lives to do only His pleasure.

“Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.” Consecrated ministers of the Lord do what pleases Him at all times. As such, they remain in the favour of God. Despite temptations and persecutions, they remain faithful and never yield to the pressure to please men. We must not lose focus, courage or conviction because the Lord, the final Judge, will evaluate our activities – whether or not we were totally committed and consecrated to
Him. The believer who compromises his Christian stand, the Lord says, “should not be (considered) the servant of Christ.”

God reckons with only those who faithfully deliver His precepts, like Prophet Ezekiel, whose mouth was confined (that is, dedicated) to deliver only God’s words. “And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb… But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, thussaith the Lord God; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear…” Our mouth, strength, skill and ability should be used for declaring God’s word. This year, you must know when to be quiet and when to speak in order to be effective in the Lord’s work.

You must singularly desire, this New Year, to possess the conscience and show conscientiousness as a model in the mould of believers in the Bible days who willingly rendered faithful and acceptable service to God. You must pray to possess the exceptional flame that God has reserved for His servants whose words are wholly convicting.

The words of ministers and children of God should bring conviction to the heart of sinners and drive them to repentance, because the Lord “maketh… his ministers a flaming fire.” Apostle Peter had been fearful to preach the word, but he developed courage to do so when the fire of the Holy Ghost came upon him.

This brought conviction to the heart of the people who listened to his message after the outpouring of the spirit. Thus, they were “pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?” Baptism in the Holy Ghost makes our words and messages to bring conviction to the heart of the people who hear us.

Servants and ministers of the Lord must also be essentially faultless. Joseph was faultless everywhere he found himself and in everything he did. The same faultlessness is required of us. The grace that was available to the worthies of old who were “without fault before the throne of God” is available to keep us faultless and holy today.

This is what makes believers exemplarily faithfully and courageous, like Moses was courageous and “faithful” to the Lord in everything he did. As we begin this New Year, we should examine ourselves and strive to be faithful and courageous like Moses. The Lord wants us to be faithful in godliness, declaring the gospel and in being examples of faithfulness. Therefore, wherever we are and whatever we do, this year, we should remain faithful to God who will evaluate our lives and reward us appropriately on the final day.

• Further Reading ( King James Version): Psalms 100:1,2; 101:6; 102:21,22; 103:20-22; 104:4; 105:17,22,26; 106:3,23,30,31,48. Psalms 102:21,22; 103:20-22. Psalm 103:20; Hebrews 2:2,3; Jude 1:6. Psalm 103:21,22; Isaiah 44:28; Galatians 1:10. Ezekiel 3:26,27. Psalms 104:4; 105:21,22,26; 106:3,23,30,31. Psalms 104:4; 106:29-31; Acts 2:3,36-38,41. Psalm 105:17,22; Genesis 39:9; Revelation 14:4,5; Jude 1:20,21,24,25. Psalm 106:16; Numbers 12:7; Revelation 17:14.