I can’t get out of my mind the man with “133” on his hat at our walking track.
It was the second day after Christmas, crisp and clear outside, and perfect for a walk. I wondered what the dim man in the distance was carrying. As we passed each other I noticed it was a portable oxygen tank. Impressive! Rather than sitting and souring in self-pity, he took his circumstance and the tools available to him and, tethered to a tank, he stepped out and walked for his health. On his equally impressive second lap I muttered to him some unintelligible expression of amazement.
It’s that time of year for the dreaded New Year’s resolutions. Yet, “new” has some wonderful Scriptural promises: our new birth (John 3), new capacities as creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5), a new home soon on a new earth (Revelation 21).
But I am gripped with a biblical idea that can enliven 2014. Have you heard of “firstfruits”? Originally an Old Testament principle of offering to God the first and best of crops, the principle for today is to give God the first offering of gifts and time, plans and purposes (Cf. 2 Corinthians 16:2). How about taking an early day or days in the new year and spending them with God praying, journaling, reading, and listening for God’s purposes for us in 2014? Now, that’s new.
Writer and teacher Bill Thrasher does this. His first year he asked God for three things to trust Him for in the new year. These three pursuits that year were: to see the beauty of Christ’s character in a new way, to be overwhelmed with God’s love all year, and in a fresh way to understand what it means for Christ to be our life. Certainly, other “firstfruits” would be necessary to grow in these areas, e.g., the offering of the best of time, resources, thought life, and commitments.
For me, I am retiring this month. No more eight to four thirty. It would be easy to pull back and pull out, and to pursue more leisure, less involvement, and just say “no.” (Several have told me I will have to learn how to say no.) But what is God asking of me for 2014? Do you have some of the same questions? How can I best bring glory to God and Christ—to enlarge their reputations through me in 2014? What areas of my life do I need to declutter so God can have first place in everything? What things will, positively speaking, help me to reverence Him and live in wonder of Him daily? How is He asking me to serve Him and others in this new year?
As I think about the tethered man to the oxygen tank, I rejoice in this: each year and each day we are graciously given by God a new opportunity to start where we are to grow—to mature and delight in Christ and His plans for us.
Maybe it starts at the walking track on Delaware Avenue.