Introduction : I have traveled often. However, before taking a trip, I brace myself and pack up my belongings carefully. Then I do not have trouble while traveling. We have already traveled for a new year. Let us examine our lives once again to brace ourselves up.


1. Let us live a righteous, honest, and holy life
    1) Justice is like salt.
        (1) Money without justice brings injustice and corruption (Pr 10:2)
        (2) Power without justice brings dictatorship and tyranny. (Pr 29:2, Am 5:10-11)
        (3) Social life without justice brings violence.(Am 5:7, 12, 24)
        (4) A household without justice brings misfortune. (Pr 13:23, 17:1, Ps 112:2-3)
        (5) Jesus was crucified on the Cross because of our unrighteousness
            (1Pe 3:18, 1Jn 1:9)
    2) Let us live an honest life.
        - The environment of our lives is filled with falsehood because the whole world is
           under the evil devil, and the devil is the father of falsehood. Falsehood is destroyed
           in the end (1Jn 5:19, Jn 8:44)
        (1) Adam was deceived by falsehood; Jesus was not (Mt 4:4, 7, 10)
        (2) Do not tell a lie even in a dream, said Mr. Changho Ahn
            (Ex 20:16, Pr 19:5, Ecc 3:16)
        (3) Falsehood deceives others and himself who tells a lies (the loss of trust)
            (Pr 12:22, Gal 6:7)
        (4) The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the truth, is with us
            - Decide to tell the truth with the help of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:13, Eph 4:25)
    3) Let us live a holy life.
        (1) A life in the flood of secularism (1Jn 2:15-16)
        (2) A ship must be on the water. It must not let the water come in.
            - Though we live in the world, we must not let it come into us.
                (Greedy heart is like idolatry.) (Col 3:5, 1Co 6:19)
        (3) The Holy Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death (Ro 8:2, 6:22)

2. Let us serve our neighbors
    1) The example of Jesus
        (1) Those who are weary and burdened (Mt 11:28, Ps 68:19)
        (2) Jesus was incarnated, and He served humankind even to death (Php 2:6-8)
    2) We should regard others more highly than ourselves
        - Jesus washed the feet of His disciples (Jn 13:14, Php 2:2-3)
    3) Those who want to be served (Mt 7:12, Gal 5:14)

3. Let us practice love
    1) A religious man or a good neighbor
        - the relationship with a neighbor who was robbed (Lk 10:36-37)
    2) Love
        (1) covers over sins and does not condemn or judge others - I desire mercy, not
             sacrifice (Hos 6:6, 1Pe 4:8)
        (2) heals the wounded (Ro 15:2, 1Th 5:14, Jas 3:18)
        (3) bears the burden of others (Gal 6:2, Ro 12:15-16)
        (4) helps others to succeed (Lk 6:38, Ac 20:35)


Conclusion : Let us pursue righteousness, honesty, and holiness, serve our neighbor, and practice love in our daily lives this New Year. Then, the glory of the kingdom of heaven is revealed in the real life through us.