This piece was written at the beginning of 2009. I published in my book, I Give You Jesus the Greatest Gift. I read today on January 1, 2021 and thought I should share…I did add a line or two.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
New Year’s Day is a time of new beginnings. It’s a point in time when most assess the last year and set goals/resolutions for the next. Losing weight, finding a better job, starting to attend church more, letting things go and taking tasks on seems the talk on everyone’s lips. This process, which can happen anytime of the year, seems to be more prevalent January 1st.
The word that has been ringing in my ear this end of year is – RECONCILIATION! First and foremost, what is most important is our reconciliation with God and then moving onto our reconciliation with one another. It is through our relationship with God only that we can truly love one another.
Let me explain further…
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: Colossians 1:20-22
Although you may have accepted Christ’s life, death and resurrection and are saved already, the process goes further. Jesus not only died for the sins of your past. He also died for those sins you are presently committing in addition to those which you will commit in the future. We’re constantly cleaning the cup! Jesus himself warned the Pharisees in the book of Matthew 23:26, “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” The New Year is a time to reflect – what are the things that are hindering my relationship with God?
A good place to start to repair our relationship is to really apply the First and Great Commandment and then move onto the second. The first is – to love God with your heart, soul and mind and the second to love one another.
Loving God does not only mean attending church every Sunday or starting to go to bible study -although, that’s a good place to start to improve your relationship and get to know Him. Loving God means putting Him first in everything you do. It means that in every situation and circumstance of your life admiring, appreciating and being in awe of God and his ways that you want to be like Him. In John 14:15 Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” It is a process of actually saying and following exactly what would Jesus do. And then when you fall short, which we do at times, it means going back to apologize to God, ask for forgiveness and changing your ways. It is through that process of forgiveness that we are put in right standing or reconciled to God.
What happens next? Then since we admire the fact He’s done that for us, we are to do the same for others as the second command states. Love them so much that we can reconcile/forgive them as God forgives us.
I joked with a friend of mine January 1st while talking about my resolution to love God and love people more. I said, “I know loving the ‘folk’ ain’t easy all the time.” And then her wise father added – “But you gotta love um anyway as Jesus would.” Love them when they despitefully use you. Love them through all the heartache and headache. Love them like God loved you enough to sacrifice His only Son…that’s the least we can do. Doesn’t mean to be a doormat as some may think…God loves us so much that He chastises us too to set us on a correct path.
In the New Year do a new thing as a “new creature” – love God and love people even more… Happy New Year! Many Blessings!! Love yall! Daphne
lifeandgodliness 