“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2)
The young elementary-age boy was standing at the chalkboard when his teacher admonished him for being what she considered to be an underachiever. He thought about her words for a moment and responded in this way, “Ma’am, I am not an underachiever … you’re an over-expecter!”
Now, we can all relate to this young boy’s response can’t we? While it is true that God has expectations of each one of us, it is just as true that He doesn’t expect more us than we can be, do or accomplish! God requires things of us throughout our lives and we need to understand this truth. You see, He is God the Creator and we are His creation! He does not expect perfection, but He does expect us to give our best!
The New Year has arrived in earnest and is speeding along at an alarming rate. Traditionally, resolutions/goals/objectives … however you want to word it … are made. Access to the Internet will reflect in the Bing search engine 12million … that’s right … 12 million articles, lists and suggestions on these actions. Overwhelming isn’t it? It can also be overwhelming when we map out our plans, and realize how quickly we can come up short on seeing them realized! Have you already broken one or two of the ones you made? Be honest …
The following goal/resolution for the coming year is actually very simple to state, but requires great discipline, perseverance and greater awareness, Become More Like Jesus This Year! With the realization that this is a rather broad resolution, we can better define it by learning more about Jesus Himself, how He lived, what He said, what He did, how He handled adversity, disappointment, betrayal, death of others and even His own death! You see, there is so much to learn about Jesus if you’ll just stop to think about it!
Right in front of us can be the most inclusive, relevant, and rewarding resolution that we could ever affirm and then work to achieve DAILY! So, let’s all resolve that in this coming year, as the Lord grants us life, that we will strive to get to know our Savior better through study, meditation and reflection on the only authoritative Book on Jesus, the Bible!
“Yet indeed I count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
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