Tuesday, December 27, 2022

A New Look at the New Year

We knew it was coming. We had anticipated it for several days, even though it wasn’t necessarily front-and-center of our thinking. Then it happens, we wake up one morning to find it’s January 1st! As the day progresses and the dust settles from the parades, football games, and eating from a buffet of left-overs, it finally settles in…it’s a new year.

Turning the calendar to January impacts our thinking. We remember the year that is past, its successes and failures, its achievements and missed opportunities. Our emotions are stirred, and our memories are authentic. But now it’s a new year. We ponder the prospects and the obligations. We mentally leap ahead to calculate birthdays, anniversaries, and maybe the next grade of school for the children.

We may never share it openly with others, but in our mind, we determine that this year will be different, it will be better, or that it will be more productive. These are very natural thoughts. In a sense, we echo what the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13, “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…” Indeed, we do well to set our sights to “reach forth” for new achievements based upon high expectations.

So, we commit ourselves and our plans to be more financially responsible, more engaged with others, more fit and healthy, more conscious of time, read more (and social network less) and be more diligent in our tasks at work and home. All of which are good thoughts. However, the intent of our “do better” list is severely lacking if we have not seriously considered the priority of the spiritual elements of life. For if we claim the name of Christ, our thinking must be influenced by biblical priorities. Priorities which cannot be relegated to the bottom of the “do better” list, or even worse, ignored.

We need to consider the next part of the passage from Philippians 3. The Apostle makes the point that, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” He realizes that his greatest effort is to “press on.” The original Greek word that is translated “press” means to pursue, and it’s in a tense that demands continuous and repeated action. It portrays the daily demands and disciplines of a highly prepared athlete, one who works out and practices, pushing to be the best to obtain the gold medal. Then, once that athlete reaches the goal, all the work, sweat, and even pain become faded memories.

The intent of the verse is clear. Paul conveys his desire to recognize past success, but not to be content with past success. He expresses his yearning to pursue a goal deliberately and continuously. Not a goal of material wealth, financial security, social esteem, or even religious recognition. Rather, his goal was to pursue a far more valuable reward, a victor’s crown (the prize) for faithfulness and virtue as he served the Lord…identified as the “high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

This same truth should impact our thinking for the new year. Let’s remember past successes, but not be content to stop there. Let’s not let past failures hold us back. Let’s not pursue the trivial and ignore the significant. Rather, like the Apostle, let us yearn for those things which have an eternal impact. Let’s commit, as born-again Christians, to our spiritual health, our spiritual growth, and our spiritual impact. We are blessed to have opportunities and resources to do all three, but nothing will change unless we make the commitment.

The ministries of our church, whether they are on-site or off-site, impact several hundred people each week. The worship services, the BSF groups, and the mid-week services are the essential on-site events that allow God’s word to impact our thinking and our spiritual growth. These are also opportunities to serve, and not just to be served. Our outreach ministries add many other opportunities to be involved. That’s why on the 15th and 22nd of this month, we will have ministry enlistment after the worship services. Come find out where your hands, your heart, and your talents can be used as we all “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” during the year ahead.

Dr. Harlie Miller, Executive Pastor

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A New Look at the New Year

We knew it was coming. We had anticipated it for several days, even though it wasn’t necessarily front-and-center of our thinking. Then it...