Happy New Year!
A fresh new year is often the start of fresh new changes. Or, if we are honest, it’s the start of several half-committed minor improvements. If one of those improvements lasts more than a month we will be thrilled (and also a bit surprised) with ourselves.
The birth and life of Jesus is the most revolutionary change in history. Jesus launched his public ministry in the Galilee region because there he found “the people living in darkness … those living in the land of the shadow of death” (Matt 4:16). They knew that life was cruel, unfair, and unpredictable, with their hopes just too far out of reach. And so when Jesus came to them with a little bit of light, many turned and followed. His command of “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matt 4:17) was a proclamation of an entirely new world order.
Change is hard. Really hard. Especially a change that questions everything you thought you knew. But the change process has to begin with a profound admission that the old ways do not work, trying harder won’t work, wishing things were different won’t work, and that there are no other options. When you are at the end of yourself and your hands are empty like a beggar asking for bread.
Repentance is more than admitting wrongdoing, it is literally a turning from darkness to light. The faith that Jesus brings is the full truth and the real life. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom where all things are well. His people are not just newly reborn into that kingdom, but they will always be new. There is no greater change than belonging to Jesus. No matter who you are or how dark your life seems, he will rescue you even when you have nothing to offer.
Remind yourself of that gospel truth and let other people know of the one place that they can turn so their life has meaning. As the old saying goes, you can be one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.
Daniel Nayeri’s book Everything Sad is Untrue describes his family’s life as a Persian refugee fleeing Iran because his mother converted to Christianity, a capital offense. She and her children gave up everything for Jesus. People ask, “why did she believe?” He writes. “If you believe it’s true, that there is a God and He wants you to believe in Him and He sent His Son to die for you—then it has to take over your life. It has to be worth more than everything else, because heaven’s waiting on the other side.”
Get Support
Are you currently struggling with infertility or wanting support in recovering from a miscarriage or loss of a young child? At this time, we are only inviting women to join this community for peer support. This Infertility, Miscarriage & Infant Loss Support Group meets monthly on Thursdays at 7:00 pm at W83 Ministry Center.
Advance registration is required.
Upcoming Events
- Jan 6 | Three Kings Day celebration at the Frederick Douglass Houses
- Jan 12 | Addiction Discussion Group
- Jan 12 | Grief & Loss Support Group
- Jan 22 | New at RWS
