I Resolve

It’s that time of the year again, when the mind turns to making good resolutions for the year to come. Generally I try to make one resolution, which is ‘don’t make resolutions’. Otherwise I think I am just setting myself up for failure. I always start well but the initial enthusiasm doesn’t sustain me and then I feel guilty that I haven’t followed through.

However it is a good idea to reflect and think about those core values that I want to commit to and give evidence of in the next chapter of my life. You never know, that may result in changed behaviour, almost resolution by stealth!

In a letter to a bunch of Hebrew Christians a couple of thousand years ago the writer gave a list of ten behaviours that seem to me to be a pretty good pattern to follow:

·         Love each other

·         Show hospitality to strangers

·         Identify with prisoners, the persecuted and the ill treated

·         Be faithful in your marriage and make it work

·         Let your character be free from the love of money, be content with what you have

·         Remember those people that got you where you are and copy them

·         Don’t get carried away by wacky ideas and strange teaching

·         Keep doing good to others and share what you have with them

·         Obey your leaders and submit to them

·         Pray for those who established you

In the middle of this list there is a statement that seems almost out of context, it is ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever’. It seems the writer was looking back to the first five items on his list which ended with the injunction to keep one’s character free from the love of money and to be content with what you have. This was based on the reminder that God had said in history that he would not desert nor forget them, and that if God is on their side, then what do they need to be afraid of? The Jesus that was faithful then will be faithful now. More money is certainly not the answer.

As he looked to the future the writer seems to be warning that there will be some strange ideas and philosophies and the demand to honour and protect those of proven character will increase. It will be increasingly important to focus on what we know to be true, and of course in doing so we will focus on the same Jesus who proved himself in the past and can be relied on in the future.

As I look at this list I find that in every case there is room for improvement and I can certainly address myself to them. Maybe a strategy or a SMART goal or two, or even a KPI might help to keep me on track. But the reality, for me at least, is that unless the Jesus Christ who is the same today as he was in the past and will be in the future is not the one who guides and motivates me then it is just another set of resolutions that probably won’t get past February.

They didn't know him

When the apostle John recounts the story of the coming of Christ into the world he makes the remarkable statement: He was in the world, the world was made by him, and the world did not know him.

Christmas is upon us and around the world people celebrate this event by having a holiday, giving and receiving presents and eating way too much food. It is reported that last year alone in Australia $42billion was spent on Christmas and $17billion of that on food! Of course in other parts of the world Christmas is remembered differently and in some cases the ‘Christ’ part of the event is removed entirely. In some cases people will turn up at church, it may be the only time of the year but they come to pay respect to the one whom the event is named after. In others regular church attenders take the day off in their rush to enjoy the holiday.

Wherever you go and to whomever you speak Christmas as an event is understood and acknowledged, yet for many they do not know him. Christmas is an event that marks the entry into the world of a child, an event that so changed the way we view history that calendars are based on his birth. This was no ordinary child but as the apostle said, one who was full of grace and truth and who reflected the glory of his Father in heaven. Everybody knows about Christmas but many do not know about Jesus.

John goes further, he said that even his own people didn’t receive him. In many so-called ‘Christian’ nations today Jesus is no longer received. We want the event, the celebration, the festivities, but not the saviour. We cannot separate Christmas from Christ, it is not about the myths that accompany Christmas, it is not about getting bent out of shape because some people talk about a large man in a red suit. It is about understanding that Christmas is the entry of God into our world, it is about an offer to all who would receive and believe in him that they could become sons and daughters of God.

The prophet Isaiah, 700 years or so before that first Christmas, said that those who were in darkness would see a great light, because a child is born, a son is given and his name will be called Immanuel which means God is with us. The apostle John declared that Jesus was this true light, the light that could illumine every person. This Christmas Jesus offers the gift of light and life to you, his light will illumine the dark places, dispel the gloom and bring hope where you thought there was no hope. This is his gift to all who would receive him, by believing in his name: Jesus, Saviour, Christ, Lord, Immanuel, wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting father and prince of peace. 

This Christmas, make sure you know him of who the story is written and receive him by faith and you will know that Immanuel, God is with you.