Dear Lebanon, Happy and Blessed New Year! When a new year comes, we often think about newness, and in that newness, we imagine that we want to make changes. These changes can be about how we look, our jobs, our relationships, and how we are connecting to God in Christ. We can make resolutions and commitments and aspire to do and be better! But when you really think about it, how can the imperfect ever make itself perfect. However, when something better than us comes along, we can seek perfection through the perfection we find in Christ! We are made brand new every day, and every moment of every day, as we turn to Christ as our Redeemer. We don’t have to worry about whether or not we’re perfect enough for salvation, because God in Christ sees us through the perfection of His Son! And not only His Son‘s perfect perfection, but His Son‘s obedience! That doesn’t mean, that in appreciation, gratitude, and honor of what God in Christ has done for us that we should not seek to be better, and seek the fruits of the Spirit, but we need to recognize that we are already perfected in Christ. The joy we have in the new year is not what we foresee as our commitment to our resolutions, because by Quitters Day, which is the second Friday of January, most people have broken them, but instead we look to Christ and seeking to be better, we ask ourselves what does Christ call us to do. What are we called to do with our families, among our friends, in the church, and in the world? The answer is simple, it’s to share with Christ has already done in us! Let us seek that perfection which transcends all things because we have been perfected as new creations in the love of Christ, and share it with those who have ears to hear, I succeed, and heart ready to receive. Have a wonderful new year!
In the love of Christ, Pastor Bob
