New Year's Resolutions for Christians...

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:9-18 NKJV

I awakened early on this CHRISTmas morning. So far, it seems like any other day. I've made my coffee, read my paper, fed & walked the dog--just like so may days before. I've thought of memories of CHRISTmases past, filled with the joy & excitement of young children and of family and friends who are no longer with us. I've pondered my life, regretted my mistakes and celebrated my victories.

2010 will soon come to a close and a New Year will begin. With that comes a time of reflection of the year's events and the anticipation of what the New Year holds in store. 2010 held both good and bad--my family saw GOD work in miraculous ways restoring my wife after a near-death experience. We saw new families started through marriages & the addition of new family members through the birth of children. We saw lives negatively affected by the loss of loved ones, divorces, job losses and the like.

What does 2011 hold for us? Only GOD knows. While we can't see into the future, we know we can expect negative and positive events to unfold. As we make our usual New Year's Resolutions--you know, lose weight, exercise more, take better care of ourselves, etc.(for the record, we should maintain our physical body--it is the temple of GOD--we just don't need to be obsessed with it)--let us also resolve to be better Christians.

What does that involve, you might ask. As for me, I think it begins with LOVE. Not love for self, or money, or possessions--but love for our Saviour and love for our fellow man. Seek GOD's Will for your life. Ask Him how & where He would have you serve. Spend time with Him daily in prayer & Bible reading. Show Him your love for Him by sharing Him with others.

We work and worry and fret over insignificant things, like our feeble attempts to "keep up with the Joneses" in this live fast, do more & have more society that is our world today. In the passage above from Romans, we are told how to live in love and at peace with our fellow man. James 1:27 NKJV tells us, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." It's not about us--it's about how we interact with others.

One of my favorite scriptures is 1 John 4:7-11. It was the text of my first attempt to proclaim GOD's Word to His people many years ago at Eastern Valley Baptist Church in Bessemer, AL. It reads, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another". Simply put--GOD loves us, therefore if we call ourselves Christians, we are to love each other.

We are to give to our church and to our fellow Christians. We are to give to those less fortunate than we are. Giving does not always involve money. GOD has gifted each of us differently and we should use those gifts and talents to reach a lost and dying world--a world starving for the love and peace only GOD can offer. We also have time to offer--volunteer to help in the church office, visit the sick in the hospital, visit a nursing home or veteran's facility, prepare food for shut-ins, intercede in prayer for pastors, teachers, missionaries, etc. The list is endless. You know what you have to offer--resolve to make a difference in the Kingdom and in the lives of those around you. This world truly is not our home--we are but pilgrims passing through--we must shine the love of GOD into the darkness of this sin-filled planet called Earth.

In the words of John Lennon, "So this is Christmas, what have you done? Another year over and a new one just begun." Ponder & pray about what GOD would have you do and what your ministry might be. He'll open the doors, just ask Him & see. Make being a better Christian your #1 New Year's Resolution!

May you be blessed with GOD's richest and best in the coming New Year!

Blessings!
Tony

The Story/Spirit of CHRISTmas...

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:1-14 NKJV

CHRISTmas is almost upon us. With that comes tremendous commercialism, an outright perversion of the true meaning of the holiday. CHRISTmas isn't just about giving and receiving gifts as the department stores would have you believe. It is a time to reflect on GOD's love for mankind, a love that would cause Him to send His one and only Son into the world to redeem our fallen race.

That being said, I believe the Spirit of CHRISTmas is best reflected in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". In that single verse lies the meaning of GOD's love. A love that warranted the sacrifice of His Son in order to provide the atonement for our sins.

Jesus offered Himself--no one took His life, He willingly gave it. He left the glory and splendor of Heaven, came as a helpless baby, lived a sinless life, and surrendered Himself to the Will of the Father to the point of a cruel death on the cross. This was His mission--from the time of His birth, each step took Him closer to the cross.

As a father, I cannot imagine loving anyone so much that I would willingly sacrifice my child to save them--yet, GOD did. As mankind strayed farther and farther away from His Commandments and became increasingly vile, He loved us enough to give His very best--JESUS! Now, that is love!

As you make preparations for your holiday festivities, remember to make room for CHRIST in your CHRISTmas. He is after all, the real reason for the season...

Merry CHRISTmas!

Blessings!
Tony