now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. -Phil 1:20-21
The new year provides us with an annual opportunity to take stock and decide, will we coast in neutral, or will be resolve to be more of whom we are called to be.
Oswald Chambers summarizes Paul’s statement like this:
“My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest— my best for His glory.” To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point.
As we walk into this next year, it is entirely appropriate to ask ourselves how committed to the life of Christ we are. What can we do to move closer to Him?
- Spend time in His word every day? I suggest a reading plan from Bibleplan.org
- Spend time alone with God in prayer at least 10 min. A day? Make the time.
- Get involved with a church, honestly join that church, one church. There is no such thing as a disconnected growing limb of the human body, and so it is with the Body of Christ. We are fond of thinking faith is a private matter and that growth in godliness is an individual matter, and though we each make the choice, without being a part of a local church, you can’t become who you are gifted to be (cf. Eph 4). You are fooling yourself if you jump from church to church or think you can simply attend from time to time and still be a mature (maturing) Believer. We are built for community.
Give! Fast! Pray! Share! Go!
Make this year your best for His glory!
