It doesn’t take much of a study to realise how fragile the life-span of some very good intentions really are.
Perhaps the good intentions are crowded out by the reality, that it is usually much easier to not have to put in the extra effort for change.
Fairly quickly, we become resigned to the fact that we will be going through another year of being less than we expected to be.
Have we become too focused on the fact that it seems much easier ( and more likely) to fail than to persist, with encouragement to go on?
Have we also forgotten the message that comes to us each Christmas already?
When Jesus Christ was born in a stable in Bethlehem 2000 years ago as the Son of God, it was because God wanted us to know that we were not meant to struggle through life on our own.
The name Jesus means “the one who will save his people from their sins (failings)” Matthew 1:21, and His other name is Immanuel which means “God will be with us” Matthew1:22.
John 3:17 tells us that Jesus didn’t come to condemn us for our failings, but to be with us, to overcome them.
We are reminded that even though it is easy for us to give up on our commitment to God, God has never given up on His faithfulness to us, because of His love for us.
Living life requires intentionality, just as living for God also requires intentionality.
Have you become used to writing the date as 2025 yet? Sometimes that requires persistence and intentionality as well.
Trust God that He is faithful in supporting you in getting to know Him better.
~ Contributed by Bruce Driver from the Uniting Church on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
29°C