21 Areas of Focus for Christians in 2021

Finally, we’re here, embarking on a brand new year. But where and how do God’s people steer our focus after making it through 2020 by His grace?

Because “brand-new” conjures up all kinds of hopes and dreams. 

And Merriam Webster defines it: conspicuously new and unused, also: recently introduced. Synonyms: fresh, mint, pristine, span-new.

While we might have wished for 2020 to end early, most of us welcomed it with a cheery, “Hello, New Year” twelve months ago. 

Instead of the ability to go back and undo our warm welcome to 2020, we only possess the gift to look ahead—focus forward.

Yet, any new year never promises care-free days.

So here are 21 areas of focus for believers.

Focus on Brand-new

(1.) Beginnings. “The point in time or space at which something starts.”(Google) The world, life, time and space all started with God. Give Him the new year and your new beginnings.

(2.) Forge new paths. Whether careers, direction, vision, mission, or ministry, remember who makes new paths. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

(3.) Dreams. Dream big ole’ ginormous things only God can pull off. He’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and Him dream best together. 

Dream big ole’ ginormous things only God can pull off. He’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and Him dream best together. #NewYear #Focus Share on X

(4.) Do-overs. Sometimes we get to do something over, other times it’s impossible. But every new year, month, week, and day presents opportunities to change our actions, reactions, perspective, words, and outlook.

(5.) Second chances. Everyone hopes for a second chance after forgetting something, messing up, or hurting someone. Not only expecting them from others, but also giving them to others. Because we serve a God of second chances and countless chances. 

(6.) Wholeness. We were made for wholeness, but we learned brokenness. Jesus makes us whole. “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV)

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Opening Our Heart to the King of Glory

Welcome to our final week of revealing the King of glory.

So far, we discovered in Psalm 24 how…

(1.) creation

(2.) holiness

(3.) and seeking God’s face, all point to Christ and His glory. 

Now, we learn how (4.) salvation and opening our heart to Christ also reveals His glory.

The last four verses beautifully and powerfully describe Him. 

“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!

Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah”

Psalm 24:7-10 (ESV)

Salvation Reveals the King of Glory

Matthew Henry’s Commentary notes the repetitions of phrases in these verses like those in a song.

“The doors and gates are to be thrown open, thrown wide open, to give him admission, for behold he stands at the door and knocks, ready to come in.”

Henry further notes the Lord desires to be “welcomed by us.” 

The King of glory knocks at the door of our heart. If we open the door, He comes in (Revelation 3:20). Jesus came that first Christmas night in Bethlehem for all who are willing to welcome His glory into their heart and life.

The King of glory knocks at the door of our heart. If we open the door, He comes in (Rev. 3:20). Jesus came that first Christmas night for all who are willing to welcome His glory into their heart and life. #Glory #salvation Share on X

God’s Glory With Us

Perhaps Mary’s thoughts went something like this.

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He took His first breath.

Wrapped in swaddling cloths, though adorned with royal titles. Wonderful. Counselor. Prince of Peace. Holy King. Immanuel. The Ancient of Days.

The Lamb of God created the star placed in the heavens to announce His arrival. The light of the world.

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Seeking the Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Seeking the King of glory.

Welcome back to our series on revealing the King of glory.

Revealing Him this Christmas and all year. 

So far, the first four verses of Psalm 24 uncovered how both creation (verses 1-2) and holiness (verses 3-4) reveal the glorious kingship of Jesus Christ.

Only those with clean hands and a pure heart stand in the Lord’s holy place as He makes us holy.

Now, let’s look at the next two verses. 

“He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah” Psalm 24:5-6 (ESV emphasis added)

Not only do we receive blessing and righteousness in our salvation, but we also continue to seek the face of our Lord.

Seeking the King 

When we relentlessly seek King Jesus, it radically transforms us. And the enemy knows it. So he uses the world’s distractions to keep us from seeking after Jesus.

When we relentlessly seek King Jesus, it radically transforms us. And the enemy knows it. So he uses the world’s distractions to keep us from seeking after Jesus. #King #Jesus Share on X

Because we struggle with how living in this world clashes with not being of this world. Or, we experience the ongoing battle between our flesh and spirit. 

Throughout the history of the world, the history of God’s people, and the history of the Bible, the choice always stood in place. Either seek after God or seek something else. 

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Why Holiness Reveals the King of Glory: Week 2

Who is this King of glory? 

We already discovered how creation reveals the King of glory in Psalm 24:1-2.

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.” (ESV)

And how this particular Psalm is the only place in the Bible that mentions the phrase, The King of glory. 

Yet, not only does creation reveal the Lord’s glory, but also holiness as in our next two verses.

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3-4 (ESV, emphasis added)

The King of Glory Came for Our Holiness

Jesus Christ came as the King of glory, arrayed in holiness. But He also came to make a people holy and whole.

Jesus Christ came as the King of glory, arrayed in holiness. But He also came to make a people holy and whole. #Glory #holy Share on X

The “hill of the Lord’ and “his holy place” reveal the Lord’s holiness and why the King of glory came for our holiness, too.

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Revealing the King of Glory: Week 1

Who is this King of glory?

In three weeks, we celebrate Christmas and the King of Glory.

While I find it unbelievable, more troubling is the unbelief I see behind the holiday—Holy-day. 

But, the birth of Jesus was revealing the Savior to the world.

The One promised to rescue us from sin, other gods, the enemy and even ourselves.

And as always, the heavenly Father kept His promise. 

God’s Son came to bring the light of heaven to earth. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, born to die.

Denied earthly glory and fame, Jesus bears a name above every name. He is the King of glory.

Denied earthly glory and fame, Jesus bears a name above every name. He is the King of glory. #Jesus #King #Glory Share on X

The King of Glory

Yet the phrase, “The King of glory” is only found once in the Bible, in Psalm 24. It’s one of my favorite passages. 

So, over the coming weeks until Christmas, the ten verses of Psalm 24 will guide us in revealing the King of Glory.

And we are not only revealing Christ in a more meaningful way in our own heart, but also to those around us and to the world.

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