The New Year Approaches

      January approaches, the beginning of a new year full of opportunities as yet unknown. The first month of our year is named after the ancient Roman god of gates, doors and beginning and endings—Janus. He was pictured with two faces, each pointing in opposite directions.

      I know January is not quite here yet, but perhaps we should already start thinking along these lines. The next few weeks are times for looking back and looking ahead.

      What have you done this year? Have you grown spiritually? Christianity is not about where we are right now; it is about where we are growing. No matter how mature we are, the issue is are we more mature than we were this time last year? Consider II Peter 1:5-8. It says we should grow in faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. How have you grown in these characteristics over the past year?

      Now look forward into the upcoming year. How do you plan to grow in 2006? Please, understand that spiritual growth is not like physical growth. As long as we eat, we grow physically. Spiritual growth, however, takes real planning. It does not happen accidentally or naturally.

      Allow me to provide a few suggestions for planning your growth. Instead of being overwhelmed with everything the Bible says, pick one or two areas of your life on which to focus. For instance, instead of being overwhelmed by the whole list, pick “faith” and work to increase it. After a few months, you might focus more on moral excellence. Don’t worry that you will miss out on any of them. As you increase one, the others naturally increase as well.

      Plan your Bible reading and study. Many people plan to read the Bible through every year. You may want to do it over two years or over six months. The point is to have a Bible reading plan and stick with it. Then have your study plan. Study is more in depth than reading. As above, don’t be overwhelmed by the entire Bible, pick out a book, topic or character you will plan to study in depth throughout the year. Plan your study and follow through.

      Plan your prayer time. Daniel prayed three times every day (Daniel 6:10). Perhaps that is too much for you. Perhaps it is not enough. The point is to plan it and stick with your plan.

      Finally, plan time with other Christians beyond the regular assemblies. Plan times to worship together through Bible study, prayer or singing. Also, plan social time with your brethren. You will be amazed at how just being around other Christians on a regular basis helps you grow.

      Growth only happens on purpose. What is your plan?

Edwin L. Crozier