Are you big into New Year’s resolutions, a personal development plan, and writing in a daily journal?
Or maybe you’ve crashed and burned so many personal goals you’re taking a break, and the closest thing you have to a journal is your Facebook memories popping up a few days in a row.
Whether you champion change or not, change happens in your life. You change. When the weather changes, you change your wardrobe and behaviors. When the economy changes, you change your saving and spending. When COVID visits your home, you change your routines and appointments.
So, you will change in 2022. You want to change for the better, don’t you? How about changing into God’s better version of you? Here’s how:
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2,3).
There are better things. New things, not old things. New things, not earthly things. Higher things. Holy things. But these are hidden things. Where do you find them? Jesus Christ.
The new you in ’22 is “hidden with Christ.” Hidden on his cross. Hidden in his grave. Hidden in his perfect forgiveness, patient mercy, and eternal glory.
So find the new you in ’22 …
Not in earthly things, but in things above.
Not in being chosen for the band or not chosen for the department promotion, but in being chosen in eternity to be a child of God by grace.
Not in how many friends you have but in how faithful Jesus Christ is, who calls himself your friend.
Not in home improvement projects but in heart improvement that comes by studying God’s Word.
Not in winning the softball championship or losing the soccer tournament, but in your victory over the control of sin and curse of death.
Not in finally finding a relationship with someone decent or not finding that future spouse, but in the relationship you have with Jesus.
Not in a successful life of climbing the social order or unsuccessfully falling down the corporate ladder, but in the humble, sacrificial life of Jesus Christ who lowered himself so low, so deep that he died as the payment of God’s wrath for all sin and evil. Even yours. Especially yours.
Every day—or perhaps today for the first time—believe in Jesus Christ. He is the change you need. He is your new life. So live!
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, you promise that my fuller, more satisfying life is hidden in you. You call me to experience greater joy and peace by believing in you more than worldly things. I want to be new in you in ’22! Amen.
EVANGELISM ACTION: Read Colossians 3:1-4. Find the crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and second coming of Jesus Christ in these verses. See how you are connected to these saving works? Consider how these 4 saving works of Jesus make a great outline for introducing someone to Jesus. “This is what he did to make you new!”