Are you looking for some changes in your life for 2008? Let me suggest these...
Since we’ve been forgiven and saved by Christ, let’s focus this year on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Let heaven fill our thoughts. Let’s not just think about things down here on earth, because since Christ died, our life is hidden in Him. He is our real life. And one day we will live eternally in heaven with Him.
Let us throw off earthly things like sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Let’s quit being so greedy for the good things of this life (that is idolatry), let God’s anger come upon us. Let’s get rid of anger, rage, back stabbing, talking bad about people, and dirty language. Let’s covenant not to lie to each other. None of this stuff is consistent with our new nature. We should be becoming more like Christ each day as we learn more about Him. It doesn’t matter who you have been or what position of authority or wealth you have today. All that matter is that we are His, and He lives in us.
Since God chose us to be the holy people He loves, we should clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We should remember to make allowances for each other’s faults and forgive the person who hurts or offends us. Why should we forgive them? Because Christ forgave us and we deserved it less from Him than they do from us.
And most importantly, we should let love clothe everything we are and everything we do. It is love that will bind us together and safeguards our unity.
If we do all of this, we will have peace (which only comes from God).
We should also be thankful...
And we should let the words of Christ, live in our hearts, so we can be wise. We should study His word, teach His word, and give advice to others by sharing His word.
We should sing songs together... songs sung to God with thankful hearts.
And finally, we should make sure everything we do or say is done mindful of the fact that we are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ.
How do you think things would change if we all made that our New Year’s Resolution for 2008? What you’ve just read is my paraphrase this morning of Colossians 3:1-17. Open your Bible and read the verses for yourself. See if God shows you something you should commit to this next year.
Pastor Noel
