What can I do to reach the lost in my community? Where do I start? How can I be a better witness for the kingdom? Can I afford to feed the poor, cloth the needy? Am I doing all I can to be unified with the body of Christ? Can I remove things from my life that tarnish my witness? Is my life cluttered with the things of the world? Can the world see Jesus Christ in me?
With the New Year rapidly approaching, we all need to ask ourselves questions such as these. Most people reflect on the past year to see if all their goals have been met, and for the New Year to set new ones. This is a time of self examination. Personally I find looking into the mirror of the past to be something less than desirable, but it must be done in order for new growth. Paul writes in II Corinthians that we need to test and examine ourselves.
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. (2 Corinthians 13:5, 6)
I look forward to the New Year just as the trees look forward to the spring rains. The trees have shed last years leafs to make room for the new years growth. We need to rid ourselves of the stumbling blocks of the past and make room for the new! We don’t need to hold on to the past, we need to let it go, and let the winds of change blow the past from our lives. Then their will be room for the new growth.
I challenge you in the New Year to do all you can do to reach your communities for Christ! If you don’t know where to start, ask the Holy Spirit, He’s your master teacher on earth. If it means clothing and feeding the needy, then we need to do it! We are one in body and need to work together, we shine brighter when unified!
Lord Jesus, purge us of the unrighteousness in our lives, let your winds blow the past away and make room for the new growth that you have for us in 2007. We thank you for giving us another year to glorify You. Amen.
