2023 has been both a challenging and rewarding year for many of us. As we reflect on 2023, may we adopt the attitude of gratitude and thankfulness. May we take time to reflect on the goodness, grace, and mercy of our loving God.
Let us thank God for giving us complete salvation through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us thank God for our family and friends. Let us thank God for keeping us safe. Let us thank God for the sunshine and the rain. Let us thank God for seeing us through good times and bad times. Let us thank God for giving us victory overcoming our sin and temptation. Let us thank God for His unfailing love, grace, and mercy. Paul has instructed us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
As we reflect on this year, I am sure there are areas which we have done extremely well and areas where we may not have. I am sure many have started to set goals and objectives for next year. Some of us may set goals to lose weight, learn a new skill, improve on our work performance and do better in our school results or be more successful in our business. These are important and great to have. It is important to set goals for our livelihood.
It is more important that we set goals for our spiritual life. Someone has wisely pointed out, “One of the most dangerous forms of human errors is forgetting what one is trying to achieve.” That is especially true in Christian life. It is easy to get side-tracked. We need to be clear and focused on what to work towards. What is the sole goal of our Christian life? If we forget it, we are not likely to achieve it. Paul nicely sums up what we are supposed to be aiming at: The goal of the Christian life is to know Christ and to be like Him. Paul exhorts us that his goal in life is to know Jesus Christ and be like him. Philippians 3:10-11 “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
It is critical that we know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord of our life. We can achieve this through God’s word. It is not enough just to know who Jesus Christ is. It is critical that we keep his commands. We demonstrate our knowledge of Jesus Christ through our obeying his commands. For those who have yet to trust Jesus Christ as Saviour, may I urge you to set this as your highest priority. Come and believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour and to know you have a wonderful Saviour who loves you. Jesus Christ gives his life for you so that you will have your sins forgiven forever and have the certainty hope of eternal life.
As we reflect on this year, may we be grateful and thankful for what God has done for us. As we set goals for 2024, may we set goals to grow our spiritual life towards maturity. May we work hard, focus, set this as our priority and press forward towards our Christian growth and maturity. Have a blessed year end and a happy new year!