It’s the beginning of yet another new year, yes, we have arrived at 2017. If you are like millions of other people that means you are most likely spending some time looking back over 2016 before even starting to look forward toward 2017. Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it is a very wise thing to do. We ought to examine ourselves and take a look at our performance throughout the past year. If we do, and we are honest about what we find, I am certain we will find numerous things we need to work on and try hard to do better in 2017.
If you are like those countless folks who are making plans to do better (I know I am one of those), you will likely consider your finances, your job, your family, your health (especially your weight – yikes!), and other areas. Unfortunately, far too few will even consider what is far, far more important than all these areas – their souls and the condition of their spiritual well-being!!!
The Apostle Paul encourages us in this area throughout his writings in the New Testament, and not only at the beginning of a new year. In fact, he challenged us to consider our progress each and every day, and most definitely, every Lord’s Day:
“Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:27-30 NKJV)
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are
disqualified.” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV)
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV)
Clearly, performing a self-examination is a very good thing. And when we have discovered where we have failed, we must then turn to the Lord with repentant hearts seeking to be pleasing to Him and make better use of our time serving Him in the future. That is what we each will do as we look back over 2016 and then forward toward 2017. If we all do this and do it well, 2017 could be the best year ever in our personal, individual walks with Christ, and collectively as the Main Street Church of Christ!!!
In His Loving Service, Vernon