Old year resolution
I think that New Year resolutions are mostly a thing of the past...
They often become more of a joke than a real challenge for most people. It's this time of year the gyms are packed with new members, but only for about a month. Then the newbies start to disappear and get back to the old ways, leaving the serious gym users to do their thing!
For a Christian, perhaps the start of a new year is a good time to reflect on what we should already be doing, not looking for something new - a new trend or fashion. A time to think that we should no longer be living the way we used to live before we knew Jesus. This new year may be a good time to give up the bad habits we've picked up from the world and remind ourselves of the way of life that we do not follow...
Ephesians 4:17-25
17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.20That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
The futility of thinking.
Separated from the life of God.
Hard hearts.
Given over to sensuality.
Deceitful desires.
Falsehood.
Paul reminds us that these were our ways before we turned to Christ. And there was nothing wrong with this according to the world. This is just the way the world works. It is acceptable to many to live like this. But not for a follower of Jesus. We need to remember that many things that are acceptable to the world are not acceptable for followers of Jesus. In fact, the contrast he states as follows:
Ephesians 26-32
26“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
We do not let anger overtake us, as this gives the devil a foothold.
We work and make ourselves useful, not taking up the opportunity to be lazy if we have one.
Sharing with those in need.
Speaking words that build others up, not unwholesome talk.
Not grieving the Holy Spirit - that is, simply not living as a follower of Jesus, ignoring what we know to be the way God calls us to live. It is a great grief to God when we know who we are called to be, but simply choose not to be that person.
Get rid of bitterness, rage, malice. Being kind and compassionate. This is who we are to be.
And all these things seem like good ways to live for any person, right? But for the follower of Jesus, there is no option. These are the characteristics that reflect who we are. This is who we are called to be. This is the life we chose in following Jesus. And to top all of those things, the final word is this:
Forgiving as God forgave us.
Forgiveness is not a required marker of the world we live in. But it is to be a marker for us. Forgiving as Christ forgave - even our enemies, those who hate us. For Christ forgave us when we were his enemies. In this alone, we should stand out from the people of the world.
This year ahead, let's not consider what new things we are to do, but let's consider the way we are already called to live as followers of Jesus.
Prayer
Lord God, in this year ahead, help me to take on more and more the characteristics of the Lord Jesus. Help me to put aside the ways of the world and to live as you call me to live. Especially help me to keep learning forgiveness - to accept it, and to offer it to others.
Amen.