After-Christmas Message

Another Christmas has come and gone. All of the shopping, all of the rushing, and all of the stressing, is behind us, and now we’re gearing up for New Year’s Eve, which includes the choosing of New Year’s resolutions. While these resolutions can be good for us, they rarely make into February, let alone the second week of January. Our resolutions may die too quickly because our approach needs improvement and better focus. I submit to you that we should keep our focus on Jesus and how He grew using the Luke 2:52 formula. Luke 2:52 reveals that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man. So, let’s follow his example. Let’s grow in wisdom by reading His word, allowing the truth to shape our thinking and ideology. In doing so, our minds, perspectives, and life will be brought to a Christ-like focus. Developing this quality of wisdom will take patience and determination but when accomplished, life is transformed. Then, Jesus grew in stature. As adults, we might already think, “Aw, I’ve already completed this portion,” but growing in stature could also include taking care of one’s body. We should never take our health for granted. While we shouldn’t obsess over beauty to the point of vanity, taking care of ourselves is indeed necessary. Then, we see that Jesus grew in favor with God and man. These last two focus on integrity and relationship. It’s about being a Christian even when no one is looking. As such, we grow in favor with God through a prayerful relationship with Him. Through prayer, we communicate with God, opening our hearts before Him. By doing so, not only are we getting to know Him through His word, but we’re also building relationship with Him through our time spent in prayer. In doing so, we find ourselves loving God with our entire being. This is what also helps us to love our neighbor as ourself, which allows us to grow in favor with men. People want to see authenticity in our lives. In addition to Luke 2:52, this authenticity can also be developed by following in Jesus’s examples, found in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Before Jesus began His ministry, He prayed for 40 days and 40 nights. Through His example, we learn to begin any action by praying first. In other words, spending time with God strengthens us for the task at hand. This is also evidenced when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) on the night He was betrayed, leading to Calvary the next morning. So if you are grappling with your choice for resolution in 2019, may I suggest the process demonstrated by Jesus Himself. When we make this our ambition, even while we still may have hiccups along the way, our lives and our relationships will be greatly improved.

From our family to yours, may you have a very happy New Year.