Beginning Anew

New Year’s Day provides the opportunity to begin anew.  Some people make New Year’s resolutions.  These are good, but many people find that those resolutions soon fall by the wayside.  With unfulfilled resolutions there is usually a sense of defeat and maybe even a little sadness. In this New Year let’s make our lives count in an even more significant way.  So you may ask, “how can I make my life count in a significant way?”  Consider the following suggestions:

1)    Make sure your life points to God.  This is the challenge the Apostle Paul made when he said, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31). Sharing good words and actions that are pleasing to God will put us on track for being a difference maker.

2)    Aim for godliness.  When keeping God central in our mind, we will grow spiritually and be an encouragement to others. The Apostle Paul tells us, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6). Speech most effectively expresses what is inside a person and when that speech mirrors God’s character, positive change can be effective.

3)    Live to draw people to God.  When we live as a reflection of God’s light and show concern by loving people, they will be able to see the glory of Christ in us and be drawn to Him.  The Bible tells us, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).  The ultimate goal is not to accomplish good deeds, but to help people take one step closer to the Lord.

Use this New Year as an opportunity to begin anew.  Make it your goal to focus on thinking, speaking, and acting in accordance with God’s name, and constantly letting the indwelling Christ be reflected to those around you.  The Bible reminds us, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (II Corinthians 5:17, NLT).

Time to Examine

Some time ago I purchased a clock for my office that had a picture of a steam locomotive on it.  But more than that, every hour, on the hour, for about 10 seconds, the clock made the noise of an old-time locomotive.  Sometimes the sound was a whistle, sometimes it was the “clickety-clack” of an engine rolling down the tracks, and sometimes it was the clanging of a bell.  Each hour, when I heard the sound of the whistle, the engine, or the bell I usually had one of two responses.  One response was frustration because the noise irritated me.  The other response was an opportunity to think.  Rather than focus on the frustration I chose to do some thinking. The sound I heard reminded me that another hour had passed in the time that God had allotted me here on this earth.  So, when I heard the sound, it was good for me to spend a few moments thinking about and examining how I had spent the previous hour.  Did my actions during that hour count for eternity?  Had I taken time to encourage someone else?  Did my thoughts turn to God or His Word?  This kind of thinking and spiritual examination was good for me.

Two times in the New Testament of the Bible we are told to examine our lives. First, before participating in the Lord’s Supper.  The Apostle Paul said, “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (I Corinthians 11:28). An examination of our relationship to God is important.  Do we know Him as Savior and Lord? Second, the word “examine” in Scripture is used in connection with an evaluation of whether or not we are a Christian.  Paul puts his instruction this way, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless of course, you fail the test?” (II Corinthians 13:5). He is suggesting that we need to carefully examine our lives to see if we are rightly related to God. Do we have Jesus Christ in our life?   Do we know Him in a personal way?  If we do, then we can say that we are “in the faith.”

Maybe it is time for you to examine your life.  You do not need a locomotive clock to do that.  Make sure that you are a member of God’s forever family.  If you should die tonight, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven?  You can be certain.  But you need to examine your life.  Compare your life to what the Scripture teaches regarding a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and then take appropriate action to make sure.  The Scripture clearly says, “He who has the son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (I John 5:12). It also says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).  Have you believed in Jesus’ name?  Do you have the Son of God in your life?  Have you personally received Him?  If this is true of you, you should thank God for all He has done for you.  Now is the time to evaluate and take action.

Beginning Anew

Each year, New Year’s Day brings with it the opportunity to begin anew.  Some people make resolutions but find that those resolutions soon fall by the wayside.  When that happens there is a sense of defeat and maybe even a little sadness. However, the New Year is a new opportunity for us to make our lives count.  So even though we are already into the new year it would be appropriate to ask the question, “how can I make my life count during this new year?"  Here are three suggestions:

1)    Make sure that everything you do points to God.  This is the challenge in the Bible that the Apostle Paul suggests when he says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31).  Our emphasis should be on God and the things we do should be pleasing to Him.

2)    Focus on godly thoughts, words and actions.  This should be a driving force in our lives every day.  God should be central in our minds but also in our words and the actions we take.  The Apostle Paul also said, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6). Speech most effectively expresses what is inside the believer. Our speech should mirror God’s character and conduct through love, patience and sacrifice.

3)    Live so people will be drawn to God.  When we live as a reflection of God’s light and concern ourselves with loving people, they will be able to see the glory of Christ in us and be drawn to God.  The Bible tells us, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).  The ultimate goal is not just good deeds, but to help people be attracted to our Lord.

Even though we are into the month of January it is not too late to use this New Year as an opportunity to begin anew.  Focus on thinking, speaking and acting in accordance with God’s name, and constantly let the indwelling Christ be reflected to those around you.

 

Trees and You

Each fall those who live in Minnesota get to enjoy the beauty of the changing colors revealed in the trees.  Each time I see the vast array of orange, brown, red, and yellow I am reminded of the beauty and splendor of God.  The Bible has some interesting things to say about trees in which we can also find a parallel application to our lives.

1)    God created the trees.  The Bible says, “And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground” (Genesis 2:9). Trees didn’t just happen—they were created by a loving God.  You and I are creations of God.  The Bible reminds us that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).

2)    Trees reflect beauty.  In the creation story there is a phrase that speaks directly to the beauty of color in the trees—whether in summer, autumn or fall.  The Bible further notes: “And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.  In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9).  You and I are a reflection of the beauty of the Lord.  The Bible says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

3)    Trees are fruitful.  Trees have been gifted with fruit which they produce after their kind.  The Bible records, “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit...” (Luke 5:44).  People are blessed and strengthened by the fruit that a tree yields.  You and I are told to be fruitful.  A command from the Bible says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last..." (John 15:16).  In order to be fruitful we need the strength and power that God gives.  We are further reminded, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).

4)    Trees are expressive.  The Bible says: “Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth” (I Chronicles 16:33).  In the Bible the psalmist expresses it this way,“Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.  Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy” (Psalm 96:12).  You and I were created to be expressive toward God.  Psalms further notes, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3).  Still another psalm says, “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1).

5)    Trees grow.  The Bible notes, “Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:32).  You and I need to grow in our relationship with God.  The Bible says, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (II Peter 3:18).

As you observe the trees this fall, think about the spiritual application of trees to your life.

Reflection Makes the Difference

The Minnesota State Fair takes place in August.  Many people enjoy going to the Fair because it’s a fun place to go.  Some people enjoy sampling the delicious food that is found in abundance on the fair grounds.  Others enjoy participating in the variety of activities.  Still others, like to sit and watch people. However, there are some people who go to the Fair because they have something to display.  Their display may include produce from a vegetable garden, goodies that are baked to luscious-looking perfection, an art or a craft that shows diligence and patience, or a well-groomed animal.

One aspect that is common to all people who display the fruit of their labor in such a setting is the aspect of reflection.  The work they do not only reveals the time and effort that went into the project, but it tells something about the artist.  For example, a fine mahogany bookcase will show the creativity of the artist.  The design will identify the attention the artist has given in the intricate detail.  The exquisite fine finish will suggest the patience and endurance of the artist.  All aspects of the end product will reflect on the one who conceived and completed the project.

It is interesting that God wants our lives to be a reflection of His glory.  Whatever you and I do should be a reflection of Him as a person.  When people look at us, they ought to see Jesus.  After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the Biblical text says, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).  The reflection was obvious.  How did they reflect Jesus?  I believe it was through their actions.  People could see the love of Jesus these men had in their hearts.  They could see the gentleness with which these men served people.  It was obvious that their lives reflected Jesus and this reflection made all the difference.

Is Jesus reflected through your life?  When people look at you do they see you—or, do they see the gentleness of the Savior?  I encourage you to make the words of the Apostle Paul your challenge.  He said, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31).  When you function in this way you will always reflect Jesus to the world around you.