2006 has dawned. On Saturday night we had a crowd over to end the year. Just before midnight we put on the TV to be sure we were getting the time right. There was a German party where people were dancing around the studio, really letting their hair down. Not unique to Germany: it was probably happening all over the world. People have a genuine sense of hope and well-being at this point of the year. Do they really think that changing a digit on the calendar will make such a difference?
The cynical part of me says it’s nonsense, but there is something deeper. We all have a desire for a fresh start in one way or another. Life is hard and has its challenges. There is a lot of pain and anguish. People make a mess of their life. The change of the year appears to offer a fresh start. It’s nice to think about something that will be true "from this day on."
So how do we really make the most of it? In our first service of the year last night, we were thinking of three things that are part of making the best start to a new year.
- Thankfulness – time to look back and trace God’s mercy and grace. Developing a sense of gratitude is part of the path to joy.
- Hope and trust – as we look ahead we need to have confidence in God’s good plan and purpose.
- Purpose – we need to hear again the call to "seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness."
My message developed these three themes, but I was also drawn to part of a verse that is more of a verse of the year thing and it is not just part of what we need for the New Year, but it’s part of what we need for the whole of life.
The fragment is from Acts 20:32. "…the word of his grace, which is able to build you up…"
That’s an important concept, because we can often limit God’s grace to the unconverted – it gets us into the Kingdom. Paul is saying that the message of grace is able to build us up – it is a resource for the whole of our Christian lives.
Standing in grace, and experiencing his mercies that are new every day, are the way to have a fresh start every day. If a bunch of Germans (or British, or anyone else) in a studio can get excited about changing the calendar – enough to dance – maybe there should be more dancing in church after all!
Happy New Year!
