02 January 2007

Auld Lang Syne

Another calendar year has come and gone. We are now in the two thousand seventh year of our Lord. I, like many people, paused at midnight to think about the previous year. What had I done with it?

I can say that I graduated from high school, completed a semester of college, and went on a mission trip to New Orleans. I can go on and on about the good I did. But not really. Because I can say that I wasted the year. I can say that I devoted far too much time to television, anger, lust, greed, and sloth.

For most of the world, this is where resolutions come in. I resolve to eat less, read more, wake up earlier, blah less, eat more blahs, blah more this, blah blah that. And in about three days, that's where resolutions exit, stage left.

But what about Christianity? What type of resolutions should disciples make? If Matthew 5:33-37 is any indication, we shouldn't. This isn't to say we shouldn't change. Just that resolutions, oaths, vows, and the like are pointless. The first reason is obvious. Why should you wait until the new year? But Christ reminds us to avoid any form of oath. "Simply let your 'yes' be 'yes', and your 'no', no'".

And now, the kicker. The application. The new year should be like any other day. Look at your mistakes. Experience "Godly Sorrow". Remember that Jesus took your mistakes to the grave. Accept his forgivness and let the Love of God help you to do better next time.

Rock on.

2 comments:

Lemmie said...

How do you make your words become red?

Anonymous said...

Very nicely put. Speak it, man.