God Speaking

“Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

(Colossians   3:  10)

I was reading a fascinating article about time and when certain dates influence our minds. Major milestones like important birthdays, anniversaries of joy or sorrow, achievements like passing that exam, winning that competition etc. seem to jolt us out of the everyday mundane thoughts. The New Year is one of those times, it is impossible not to be aware of the change of a year The news is shrieked at us through world news. Wild celebrations are displayed on the media from major cities all over the world.  I wanted to find out how long ago this all began and was amazed when I went to the internet and found out that the Babylonians 4,000 years ago held a special celebration to honor the New Year (a different date from ours) when the crops were planted. I’m not sure if resolutions were made.

It is a common practice in present day society to make resolutions at the New Year, losing weight/ doing more exercise/ start that course/ look for a new better paying job, these all require much effort on the part of the person making the resolutions, and often fail after a few months, but when Paul is writing to the Colossians new beginnings have a whole different meaning. He is urging them to change their ways but not in their own strength but relying on the power of the Creator.

When Paul is writing to the Ephesians, he focuses on the attitude of our mind and urges his listeners to disregard what they were first taught about what was important.

“You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which s being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of you minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:  22 – 24)

The world does teach us a different way of living than what Scripture tells us is pleasing to Our Heavenly Father. The world tells us how we look is most important. Hence all those New Year resolutions to lose weight/ exercise/have Botox injections. It tells us everybody has a dream you just must work hard to achieve it when you fail the world tosses you aside. Money will make you happy get to the top even if you must push others out of the way being powerful perhaps the worst thing to strive for.

If we go back to Colossians, we read a far better way to make this New Year a better one.

Here is a worthwhile resolution to make for this New Year.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3: 12 – 13)