“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” - Romans 12: 9-12

DEVOTION

There is something I have always liked about a new year: the optimism of new beginnings, fresh starts, and personal commitments to grow. The idea and desire that this will be a better year than the last; that I might eat better or make healthier choices, lose weight, workout more, make a routine, get out of debt, start a new hobby. Whatever it might be, there’s a sense of excitement to committing to something new. Yes, I’m talking about New Year’s resolutions. 

A famous NFL running back for the Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer once said, “It’s only a dream until you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.” When I came across that quote for the first time, it motivated me to put my thoughts down on paper. I searched the internet to find examples of his goals and what I found in his 1993-1994 goal sheet was amazing. I was surprised at what I saw at first because it wasn’t something I was expecting to see. Above all the personal goals and ambitions to about being the best running back in the NFL, his first goal was to “Keep Jesus Christ #1 in my life”. I reflected and realized I had never considered writing anything to do with Jesus in my New Year’s resolutions. My goals, up to this point in my life, were only about me. So that year I decided to make “spiritual goals” for New Year’s instead. 

It started with making Jesus #1 in my life. But what would it take? 

For me, I needed structure, a routine, to commit to daily. Not as a checklist but as a priority. A flame in my heart took hold and with it a deep desire to know him better, to hear his word more, and to live according to the measure he intended. Like most things, it took time. I have found patience and joy in the many seasons of life. I know there’s more ahead, but the more I desire to follow him, the more I find peace and comfort in his will!

We should desire to be faithful and serve, to be active participants in the accomplished work of Christ. Think about it from the perspective of Jesus’ life leading up to the cross: it was not to be served but to serve. He could have been like any other king in our history but Christ’s life on earth was different because God’s kingdom is not one of this world. A day is coming when Jesus will reign over all. Do you realize he could have been like any other king in our history. Because God’s kingdom is not of this world, there will be a day when Jesus will reign over all. 

My encouragement for you is make Jesus #1 in your life starting in 2022.

If you’re willing and ready to start following Jesus today, take some time to pray about what that looks like for you, and write down what he’s laid on your heart. If you’re not sure, ask God to search your heart and reveal it. Start a commitment today between you and God, to simply know him a little bit more however that might look for you. 

If you have yet to accept Jesus Christ, will you consider it? Will you let 2022 be the year you decide to let go instead of holding on to what is keeping you from him? If you do, will you write it down? Whatever it is in your heart that you need to let go, I believe you’ll begin to find some hope once you write it down and see it before you. Take a step tomorrow to pursue Jesus, and another step and pray along the way for your heart to not lose sight of what you are receiving over what you are letting go. Keep with you what it is you wrote down throughout the year, and I have all confidence that you will find him and the answer to what it is you have been seeking and begin to build off of that every year after.

All of our paths following Jesus will look different and our spiritual gifts are unique, but we are all unified in the same body from which the gifts and paths come in Jesus Christ. 

PRAYER

Father, thank you! Thank you for this day, week, and New Year! You are not constrained by time nor bound by it, I do know that I am bound by time in this body and wrestle with things I can’t understand. I ask you Father to search my heart, to fill it with faith in Jesus, to quiet my mind, and Father I ask that my body be willing to serve you more this year. I seek humbly to be least, to be last, and to lift up others around me to mature in Christ. May I be guided by the Holy Spirit to outdo others in mercy, forgiveness, and, with humility, love others as you love me. May my heart increase throughout the year. Never in boasting, so as to serve you Father, that all I may do be done to glorify you through Jesus Christ.

Amen!

Gene Carlsward

Pastor of Community Outreach

gcarlsward@crossings.church

RESOURCES

I love this quote from Mother Teresa: “Today somebody is suffering, today somebody is in the street, today somebody is hungry. Our work is for today, yesterday is gone, tomorrow has not yet come. We only have today to make Jesus known, loved, served, fed, clothed, sheltered. Do not wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow we will not have them if we do not feed them today. We can do small things with great love.”

I also would recommend taking a spiritual inventory by examining how you gather, grow and go while doing small things with great love. 

• Gather in worship! Here is worship from the Crossings Venue!
• Grow to cultivate your faith! Find your group today!
• GO! Invest in others! Here are 100 ways to Go!