Dr. Rebekah McCloud
We are at that time of year when we start to reflect on the resolutions, declarations, decrees, goals and/or promises that we made to ourselves for the year. It’s also time for us to review the accomplishments and/or failures of such. Did we receive the blessings we sought? Did we come close?
There are lots of statistics that talk about people’s failure to achieve their New Year’s resolutions. I’ve read that 8% -15% of people who made resolutions actually achieved them. My encouragement is if you are not in that number, to look for the good and celebrate each step you’ve taken forward. How we judge ourselves is up to us.
It’s been said that motivation gets one started and habit keeps one going. Nonetheless, there’s something to be said about being close. Some say close only counts in hand grenades and horse shoes. I beg to differ, being close to the Lord is an incredible blessing.
Just ask the woman with the issue of blood. You might remember her story is told in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Luke 8:44 says that she, “came behind him,” speaking of Jesus, “and touched the border of his garment; and immediately her issue of blood staunched.” She was close enough to receive a blessing. Amen.
Close sometimes gets the prize. Just ask the man who had been an invalid for 38 years. John 5: 5-9 tells us that once a year the waters in the Pool of Bethesda were stirred and the first one in was healed of his afflictions. When Jesus saw the man, he asked, “Do you want to get well?” The man said, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am on my way, someone else goes in before me.” Jesus told him to, “get up, pick up your mat and walk.” The man was immediately made well and he walked. He was close enough for a blessing.
John 9:6-7 tells about a man that was blind from birth. Jesus spat on the ground, made mud from the saliva, put it on the man’s eyes, and told him to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man did as he was told and the Bible says in verse 7, “he went home seeing”. He was close enough for a blessing.
Remember Zacchaeus? Luke 19: 1-7 tells about the wealthy tax collector who desired to see Jesus. Because he was small in stature, he climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus as he passed. Verse 6 says, “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.” Zacchaeus was close enough for a blessing.
Grace, God is still in the blessing business. Amen. The question is are we positioned to receive them? A couple of Sundays ago, Dr. Martha said 2020 is the year of perfect vision. I want to encourage us all to grab hold of that thought and use it as a lens to examine, and if needed, to refocus ourselves.
What did we do in 2019 to put God first in our lives? What more can we do in 2020? What did we do in 2019 to spread the gospel, to be fishers of men as commanded by the Great Commission? What more can we do in 2020? What did we do in 2019 in our role as stewards? What did we do with our time? Our talent? Our money and our resources? What more can we do in 2020? In 2019 were we close enough to God for a blessing? What more can we do in 2020? Once we review what we did and think about what we can do, let’s purpose in our hearts what will we do.
I guarantee that if God is in the midst of the resolutions, declarations, decrees, goals and/or promises that we will make for ourselves for 2020, God will be there. James 4:8 says, if we “draw near to God, “he will draw near to you.” We’ll be close enough for a blessing! Amen. Let me leave you with 2 Corinthians 9:8. It says, “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Amen.
Grace, have a good week.