New Year Resolutions

-I saw a recent article that listed the five most popular resolutions made most every year. The fifth was to take up a new hobby, the fourth was to make more money or get out of debt, the third most popular resolution was to improve relationships, the second was to stop smoking; and the most popular New Year’s resolution? You guessed it, losing weight.

A woman walked into her bathroom at home. As she did, she saw her husband weighing himself on the bathroom scales, sucking in his stomach. The woman thought to herself, "He thinks that he will weigh less by sucking in his stomach." So, the woman rather sarcastically said to her husband, "That’s not going to help." Her husband said, "Sure it will. It’s the only way I can see the numbers."

Often this time of year, after the overindulgence of the holidays we make resolutions to change our habits and our way of life. A new year gives us an opportunity to start fresh and better ourselves. But by the middle of January we somehow forget our resolutions and go back to our old ways.

There is, however, one resolution we cannot forget. And that is the resolution we as a church made to be passionate about telling people about God’s forgiveness through his Son Jesus Christ. This church makes no bones about the fact that we are actively trying to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.

So here’s the New Year’s resolution I want to encourage Lincoln Christian Church people to make for 2012. LET’S RESOLVE TO SHARE JESUS CHRIST WITH SOMEONE.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

How can we best share Jesus with another?

Be Authentic

There is nothing that turns people off to the gospel more than phony Christians. A major temptation for us is to try to cover up, to act pious and religious...to pretend we are more holy than we are.

Rick Warren suggests that there are four ways that Christians can treat people. First he says you can treat them like, "I’m okay, and you’re okay." The second ways is, "I’m okay, but you’re not okay." The third way is, "I’m not okay, but you’re okay." The final approach he suggests is this, "I’m not okay, and you’re not okay." Rick concludes, "The New Testament teaches that: I’m not okay, you’re not okay. But because of Jesus that’s okay."

Be Passionate

Someone once said, “One man with conviction is worth more than 99 with opinions.” Your belief in Jesus has to be passionate in order to be contagious.

In Jeremiah 20 the prophet Jeremiah described the words of God as a fire in his heart. He wrote, “His word is in my heart a fire shut up in my bones, I am weary of holding it in, indeed I cannot.” (20:9) Remember that Pointer Sisters song, “I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it, I’m about to lose control and I think I like it.” That’s how Christians should be about Jesus. Enthusiastic for Jesus.

Be Urgent       

Paul said, “We implore you on Christ’s behalf, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) We implore you, sounds urgent doesn’t it?

Its okay to set New Year’s resolutions that will make life better for you or your loved ones. But don’t forget to make the better resolutions too. Like to take another to heaven with you.

[Ron Otto, Lincoln Christian Church]