TGIF
The new year reminds us it is time to make our New Year’s resolutions. In thinking about today’s message, I knew I had given a sermon on this topic, so searched for it in hopes of finding material for this message. What I found is a sermon I gave just a year ago at Covenant, on December 29, 2019. I thought this message was quite appropriate for today, so am providing it again below, with just a few small edits. Note that this message was given pre-Covid and pre-presidential election so in some ways was in a much simpler time……. but the message still holds today, maybe even moreso!!! I hope you find it helpful.
A Godly Resolution
It’s that time of year again, time to make our New Year’s resolutions.
The top 3 resolutions annually are – 1: Eat healthier, 2: Get more exercise, 3: Save more money.
We should also add to that list – 4: Reduce waste, use paper (pasta) straws, 5: Take regular time off from your email and mobile phone. However, I would also like to add a more Godly resolution this year – to achieve true peace in your life.
There is so much noise in the system around us today, not just loud noise from TV or a radio or some other loud source of sound, but the noise swirling in our minds and brains as we struggle to get through daily life, especially at this time of year, and especially from our phones. While we are gleefully celebrating the birth of Christ, while we are watching the awe in little children’s eyes experiencing Christmas and getting all their gifts, while we are celebrating the life of new babies, and while we are getting together with loved ones that we may not have seen in awhile, life also has its stressful moments directly correlated to all this excitement and happiness going on around us – spending extended time with those dear loved ones staying at our home, traveling to get to a loved one’s home in the wintry weather that always seems to complicate holiday travel, feeding guests (especially with all the dietary restrictions we deal with today) and keeping our house looking presentable (or staying in the home of a loved one), getting all the needed Christmas presents for family and friends, wondering how to pay for all the Christmas presents for family and friends, the stress of all this “happiness” can be overwhelming at times.
Then, after the holidays are over, we can return to the normal stress in our lives of dealing with loved ones – spouses, children (of all ages) and grandchildren, dear friends, also with co-workers and bosses, and all kinds of people we run into in our daily lives; dealing with finances; politics; and all the other stresses that can seem to take over our lives and threaten our well-being. How can we manage to find peace in such a difficult world?
Jesus provides us peace in a 3-pronged manner.
1 – First, we need to seek His inner peace.
Because Jesus gave His life on the cross for us, we have received salvation and are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. This grants us an inner peace, that we are saved, that in spite of our sin and unworthiness, He has chosen us to receive eternal life. What a comfort and a peace that brings to us.
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Stay in touch with Him continuously – pray, read and study His Word, and talk with Him regularly during your day, and hear what He will have to say to you to keep you close to Him. As Sarah Young says so often in her devotionals, find quiet time with Him.
2 – Second, once we have inner peace, we can and must extend that peace to others around us.
This begins with our close family members, our church family, too often the people we love the most can provide the most hardship to us, and it can be difficult sometimes to forgive. But we are told to put aside our differences, especially with other believers, because we belong to the same family. We have the same purpose in life: to let others know about and to share with other believers the truth and peace of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Makes me think of our world today, and how many people tend to look at others differently, and in a judging manner. Jesus tells us that we are all made uniquely, but all in God’s image. This scripture tells us we all need to appreciate the differences among us and yet realize “for ye we are all one in Christ Jesus”.
It is important during this time of year to remember the real message and meaning of Christmas, that Jesus was born, that He came to earth to save us, and to bring us eternal peace and to love one another. Let’s make sure we don’t forget the reason for the season as we celebrate during this month of December and throughout 2021, and let us show it and share that feeling of peace.
Having the true peace of God allows us to look at others through heaven’s eyes and help guide the world to see God’s here and not-yet here kingdom. True peace from God, biblical peace, allows us to trust in God’s promises to us, through restful, tranquil faith, despite all the noise around us.
Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
3 – Third, we are to have peace with non-believers.
There are non-believers among us during the Christmas season and throughout the year. It is important to demonstrate our peace to these people because at some point in their life our peace can stir their curiosity – why is this person at such peace with wonder at how we manage this? They will see us exercise a spirit of tranquility, faith, and they will want to know the reason for our faith in shaky times. Instead of having a cynicism or distrust of non-believers among us, open your heart and mind to share with them your reality. When they ask, we can have a reason at the ready. “I am not afraid because I have the peace of Jesus Christ in my heart.”
Always remember, the peace of God transcends our individual circumstances and the world around us. With this, we can be rest assured that He will come and make everything right once more.
Once we have peace in our heart and our life, then hope and joy and love can follow much more naturally. Our hearts have been opened to Him, and all these gifts can stream out of us and be visible and desirable to others around us. So let us go forth with the right and godly New Year’s resolution this year that can truly make a needed change in our lives, and also in those around us. And let us renew this resolution each year at this time because it needs to be at the heart of our lives always.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the peace you offer to us freely. Advent causes us to remember that because of Jesus we can experience a Christmas free from turmoil and chaos. Regardless of our circumstances or our situations, you offer us peace that passes human understanding.
That first Christmas, when you sent your Son, you sent the one who is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Even the angels cried out, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good will to men.” The angels knew your purpose. They know the gifts of peace, hope, joy, and love that Christmas held. They recognized that the fullness of God was wrapped in the tiny flesh of an infant as you humbled yourself and dwelt among us.
You exalted Him and gave him a name above all names. Every knee in heaven and earth and under the earth shall bow to the name of Jesus. He rules and reigns as king overall. No situation or circumstance that we find ourselves in is a match for the peace, hope, joy, and love found in Jesus.
We are able to have the fullness of peace in our hearts at Christmas, and every day, because Jesus sits at your right hand in heaven. He came to earth to show us the way to you and to pay our sin debt. He loves us with a love that is unfathomable. Nothing can separate us from His love. He is good and his plans for us are good.
Father, as we move forward from Advent into a new year, we pray that you will keep us in perfect peace as our mind is stayed on the truth of your powerful love. Help us to trust fully in you and rest in the peace that you offer. It’s in the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Benediction: Philippians 4:7 – And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.