Living With Purpose

As we count the days down to a New Year it’s easy to look back and see what we didn’t finish and could have done. One word that’s prevalent in the minds of many on the eve of a New Year is resolutions. I like this word because it implies purpose. For adequate plans to be made and for motivation to expedite them, there must be purpose. A fire must be lit in our hearts and determination will be the thing that fans the flames of a burning desire to be a better person in the New Year.
Now it’s tempting to down ourselves for the mistakes we’ve made and be saddened by certain things that have come to an end. But, it’s good to reflect and much can be gained by being retrospective. Most prevalent in our reflection should be what was learned in our mistakes. Intelligent and successful people realize the value of mistakes because of what can potentially be learned in them. Look at what has happened in this past year and use that knowledge as you move forward. A good hard look at what could have happened can be profitable for you and for others. To turn our past into something fruitful we need to forget certain things in positive and negative ways. The positive thing to do is to take the negative, unpleasant, and unhappy experiences and let them go! Something can be learned from anything, but the defeats, disappointments, and guilt are not to be dwelled on, but should be forgotten! This can be done by an unconditional surrender to Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing. 1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
Nick Jackson ignited a spark of revival in the hearts of our community last Monday evening at the “Praise & Prayer” event held in downtown Jay. Standing near the nativity scene along with a few hundred people, Nick said, “Look around you tonight. Look what God is doing in this community. Look what God is doing among your church and your household. He (God) is stirring us again. He is reviving the believers to stand and to speak out.”
It’s now up to this community to “Get with it for Christ!” Ephesians 5:14 says, “The light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, awake O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Every child of God needs to move out of past ruts and old non-productive ways. We must encourage self and others to become revived and alive in this New Year and for the years to follow. This calls for a “New YOU”!
First, Get Up and Come to Christ. All of us need to become alive and active. Ephesians 2:1 says, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.” But not anymore! Get up from your doubts, fears, and resentments and come to Christ. It’s not a matter of your past, or your sins being too great. Jesus promised, “Those the Father (God) has given me will come to me, and I will in no wise cast them out” (John 6:37). What a promise! What a great hope that can be found in Christ!
Secondly, let’s Get Down and Confess to Christ. It’s time we let God’s Spirit set us on fire. The promise is that if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful to forgive us and make our life new and fresh; cleansed from all sin and mistakes. We need to confess our faults, failures, and frustrations, repenting of our lethargy and lack of concern for the things of God! Make that change in Christ and go to who you need to and ask them to forgive you and then be thankful that God loves you enough to help you move past your troubles.
Thirdly, let’s Get In and Commit to Christ. It’s past time we stop playing around the edges and launch out into the deep. So many people try to hold on to Christ and the world simultaneously. This is impossible to do. We can’t serve two masters! Present yourself as a living sacrifice to God and see what He will lead you to do.
Finally, Get Out and Conquer for Christ. Lay aside those things that are keeping you from going to God. Stop being spiritually shy and lazy! Vow in this New Year to get out there and fight evil, pray for world leadership, and share Christ in your uniquely gifted way.
One of the greatest words in the Christian’s vocabulary is forgiveness. Pursue spiritual health in 2015 and realize that you can be forgiven of ALL your sins! To be truly successful in the coming year, we must feed into our subconscious the thought of victory. The Christian religion is a triumphant, victorious religion! Jesus came to triumph over evil. He’s victorious and his followers have the same assurance! Be obedient to the will of God, be filled with His Spirit, and whatever He says, do it. Wherever He leads, follow Him. Complete obedience is our assurance of a full and meaningful life.
• This weekly column is written by Matt Dobson. A graduate of Florida State University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He’s the author of the “Living With Purpose” book series, “TBH The Truth Will Set You Free”, and “Running With Purpose”. Matt can be reached by email: rmdobson@liberty.edu. He welcomes your thoughts concerning faith, belief, and Christian living. Visit the Living With Purpose website at www.living-with-purpose.org.