2010--A Life-Changing Year!

Last Sunday I challenged our congregation to make four new commitments in 2010. These commitments can make 2010 one of the most significant years in your life if you will follow through on them. Here's a quick recap:

1. First, commit yourself to forget your failures. "Forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead . . . . press on towards the goal for which God has called you heavenwards in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3;13-14) God's purpose in giving us forgiveness of sin is that we don't have to live our lives imprisoned by our past. God's Word is telling us not to allow ourselves to be bogged down by our past failure. Stop torturing ourselves about what we did or didn't do. Stop being chained to our past failures.
2. Secondly, commit yourself to give up your grudges. "Bear with each other and forgive each other whatever grievances you my have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13) If you are holding a grudge against someone, God is telling you to give it up. Grudges are destructive to others and self destructive to us. The only way to give up a grudge is to forgive. That means to acknowledge the wrong and pain of what was done to us and make the decision to forgive. The issue isn't "I can't forgive." It is "I won't forgive."
3. Thirdly, commit yourself to restore your relationships. "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18) This verse is challenging each of us personally to do all we can to restore broken relationships in our lives. The goal is reconciliation and restitution which will bring peace to the situation.
4. Lastly, commit yourself to turn your back on your transgressions. "Do not let sin control the way you live, do not give in to its lustful desires . . . we are no longer slaves to sin." (Romans 6:2) A child of God should never live like a slave to the devil. God is challenging us to turn our back on those nagging sins that continue to hinder our spiritual growth. We must stop obeying the old master and serve the Lord. Jesus' death broke the power of sin. The Holy Spirit can give us the power to resist sin which means we don't have to go into another year being defeated by the same old sin. Ask for God's forgiveness and live like a child of the King.
   
   2010 can be just another year or it can be life changing for you spiritually. As you strive to place within your life these four commitments, success will be yours as you "press on towards the goal" for which God has called you heavenwards in Christ Jesus.
   
   Praying for tremendous growth in us all this year,
   
   From the Creek,
   
   Pastor Jeff