A FEW QUESTIONS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES GOING INTO A NEW YEAR
By: Dr. Mike Jones
Was I a good investment for God last year?
I’m serious! Remember YOU were a LOVE Gift to Jesus from the Father: You served in the Kingdom of God last year – what contribution did YOU make, other than just being a son or daughter?
“And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10
You were purchased by Jesus for a purpose beyond your personal, eternal salvation. You and I are an investment of sorts and as such have a mission from God. So, how are you doing? What grade would YOU give yourself for what YOU contributed to the Kingdom, last year?
After we’ve ponder that thought, then we should turn our hearts to: what in our lives this year needs TO BE address. It’s always been the practice of wise, spiritually vibrant Christians to live what’s been called, an examined life.
A family counselor once said “If nothing changes – nothing changes.” [Meaning, if I don’t have a plan to think and act differently, it’s highly unlikely that my life, relationships, and even my effectiveness for the kingdom, will ever improve. Let’s start the year off by first examining ourselves in terms of making some early decisions on how we will influence people inside and outside of the Kingdom of God.
Here are a few questions that we should ask ourselves before we go further into this year: And as you meditate on these questions, ask the Holy Spirit which ones on this list are the most critical issues for YOU to address. And as He reveals the order to YOU, write them down and be determined to fulfill each one of them.
1. Looking back over the time I invest in personal Bible reading and prayer time, would God conclude I was serious about deepening my relationship with him?
2. Looking back over Hebrews 12, what are the “weights” in my life? (“pet” sins, addictions, bad habits or distractions that are holding me back from being truly sold out to Jesus.)
3. If you’re married, ask yourself the question: Does my husband/wife feel cherished, respected and loved by me? And if you’re single: ask yourself, Do the people that I’m surrounded by feel loved by me.
4. Do my children respect me and are they growing more spiritual because of me? If they’re youth, living under Your roof, don’t let them decide whether or not they wanna go to church. It’s mandatory!
5. Who is the most difficult person in my life right now? What have I done to reconcile that relationship and have I forgiven them?
6. Whose life have I made better by my direct involvement in theirs? Remember, the world don’t wanna get too involved in the affairs of their neighbor(s).
Each one of us need to evaluate how we answered each of the questions, and if need be, confess our failures to the Lord and commit ourselves to live more purposefully and obediently, in 2014.
(Adapted from the Teaching QUESTIONS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES GOING INTO A NEW YEAR: all Scripture references are taken from the KJV unless otherwise noted.)