A New Start
January 2009
Do you still tend to make New Year's Resolutions? If you're anything like the majority of people, you used to but you've come to realise long ago that the chances of living up to them are fairly remote. Is this a healthy understanding, or is it the voice of despair, common sense or weary resignation? The answer is probably a bit of both. By ourselves we can change to a certain degree, but to change completely is literally beyond us.
But because of our faith in Jesus, it's a totally different story.
The gospel in which we believe is all about new starts and new beginnings. Not an act of simply focussing our minds on a particular goal to achieve our aims, but a new beginning made possible by the loving grace of God.
No matter how frustrated we may become at our inability to live the life we want to, we must never lose sight of the fact that the life-changing power of God in Christ is always working hard to bring its new creation to perfection.
So although it's always a good idea to consider making lifestyle choices that will benefit our health and well-being and a new year is a great opportunity to do that, it's also important to remember that with our faith in God, every day is an opportunity to begin again, every day is an opportunity to be thankful, every day is a gift to be treasured as we're given yet another new start.
With every blessing for 2009.
Paul
© Copyright Hatfield Church / Tim Sweed 2008