“You were taught to put away your former way of life… and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds… created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24
As we begin the new year, you may be among those who are setting goals, making resolutions, and seeking to do better. Or you may be the person telling others that you don’t make resolutions, that there’s nothing magical about January 1, or that you have enough incomplete resolutions to carry into the new year, thank you very much. For me, the start of a new year always feels like a good time to reflect on how I’ve been doing and what areas I’d like to focus on in the year to come. In my mind, January 1 is as good a time as any to make a fresh start.
In any given month, I talk with a variety of people, many of whom are feeling discouraged, weary of trying, or wondering when their efforts at doing good will “pay off.” Some, like the writer of Ecclesiastes, have found that the worldly successes they dreamed about in their younger days haven’t brought nearly the joy and satisfaction they thought they should. Others have learned that a quid pro quo faith (“something for something”) in which we expect God to repay us if we do things for God doesn’t go how we expected. Quid pro quo with God was never the deal, though we should remember that “grace always bats last.”
For those feeling weary and disillusioned, a New Year may feel like nothing more than a turn of a calendar page. But here I’d like to point us to the opportunity before us. In particular, there’s something about the New Year that reminds me of a beckoning and unexplored trail, with side tracks leading off in various directions and climbs promising picturesque vistas for those willing to accept the climb. With this in mind, we’re beginning 2025 with a four part sermon series inviting us to live more intentionally in the way of Jesus Christ.
I’m calling the series “Resolute: Childlike Lessons for a More Grownup Faith”. We’ll be anchored in Ephesians 4, where Paul turns from describing who we are in Christ (Ephesians 1-3) to practical and ethical exhortations that grow out of being in Christ (Ephesians 4-6). Each week’s message will be paired with a corresponding children’s story, to engage our imaginations and invite us to think about present day applications. Especially for those feeling discouraged, children’s stories can offer surprising insights and helpful challenges to push us towards purposeful growth and tenacious hope. I pray in the midst of whatever blessings and challenges you navigate during 2025, that your faith in Christ will provide a trusty compass to guide you along the way.
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