Known For What?
Happy New Year!
I’m not sure about you, but inevitably at this time of year, we all get caught up in making resolutions. Don’t get me wrong; resolutions are not bad, silly, or something that should be dismissed. I actually love that there is a point on the calendar that functions as a moment of clarity or a reset button. Frankly, it has been helpful in my life at several different points.
As Christians, though, the turning of the calendar to a new year and the process of resolutions should never be divorced from our faith in Christ. I.e., We are not just trying to become a better version of ourselves. The honest truth is that our compulsion to make resolutions can quickly belie a core theological conviction; that is, being like Jesus is the most central facet of our identity. The church in Antioch is the first place that the name “Christian” was ever used (Acts 11:26). Why? Well, their actions and lifestyles were so reflective of their following of Jesus that they became synonymous with him. In other words, they were given a nickname that tied them to Jesus. They were literally called Christians, “little Christs.”
The question before each of us that follows Jesus is this, what are we known for? Are we, like the believers in Antioch, so reflective of the light, joy, life, and love of Jesus that people see Jesus in us more than they see anything else? That is a lofty goal. And, if I am honest, one I miss more than I hit. But, let’s continue to be a people that strive to be more like Jesus and known for his values more and more each day. This begins with abiding or spending time with Jesus in his Word. You can’t be like someone if you don’t spend intentional time with them.