What am I going to do with this life?
The sickness is over. The holidays are over. The blogging silence is over. I’m back!
After being sick for two weeks it’s hard to remember what it’s like to wake up feeling normal and have a productive day. The first day I did was amazing and today was the best yet. How fitting that it’s New Year’s Day! It feels like a fresh start all around!
Yesterday Compass had a New Year’s Eve service and it was an encouraging time to bring in the new year with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. During the service we shared communion together and Pastor Pete read from Romans 6. The passage focused my thoughts on communion because Paul talks about how we are no longer under the law but are now under grace, not slaves to sin anymore since we’ve been made slaves to righteousness.
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:22-23
This passage and taking communion really struck something in my heart. I was thinking about how I was once a slave to sin, but because of Christ’s victory sin has no hold on me. I am bound to Christ and the pursuit of holiness. What a wonderful reality to consider on New Year’s Eve!
It’s so important to remember when you became a Christian and consider how we have grown spiritually since then. I find it beneficial to evaluate my growth at the end of the year and journaling or blogging can be so helpful for this!
If my almost-two-year-old had not gained any weight or gotten taller or developed any new skills since this time last year I would be terribly concerned. Why don’t we treat our spiritual growth that way? The Romans verses teach us that being a slave to God, being obedient to Him, reaps a benefit: holiness. The result of sin is death, but the result of being a slave to Christ is a life of righteousness. If we look back and see no growth in the year, we should be concerned.
In my husband’s sermon this weekend he compared saving faith to a gift that says on the box, “Some assembly required.” We love the idea that salvation is a gift from God, but sadly many people don’t realize that there is some assembly required…we are now slaves to God which means we obey Him. At the end of the year the Christian should be able to look back and see progression and growth in personal holiness.
Today I’ve been listening to a song by Matt Redman called “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.” The chorus reflects well my prayer going into this new year. I hope you’ve considered how you’ve grown spiritually last year and are renewed to keep living for His praise!
So what am I going to do with this life You gave me?
What could I do but live for Your praise?You gave me this breath,
And You gave me this strength,
And every day I´ll live to obey You.
With all of my heart,
With all of my soul;
Let every breath I´m breathing display You God.
January 2nd, 2008
Hi Christa, So glad you are feeling better and you are back to blogging! I hope 2008 is a great year for you and your family; growing in your relationship w/the Lord.
I thought I’d share w/you that my sister Ashley went to church on Christmas morning. That is a big step for her, especially since she went by herself. If you think of it, please pray for her. Over the last 2 years she has had some interest in reading her Bible occasionally and learning more. It is really exciting!
January 2nd, 2008
Glad to see you back! I think the Church would be dramatically affected if New Year’s involved a spiritual self-examination of growth. That the people of God would humbly examine hearts before the Living Lord, return with repentance to the necessary assembly of proving election sure, to the praise of His glory. He desires and works to perfect, complete and mature, servants for His kingdom. I look forward to this year of your blogging. I do enjoy hearing the sermon illustrations that God gives to your husband. May his ministry be greatly blessed.
January 2nd, 2008
So glad you and Tyler are feeling better!
I appreciated your illustration of spiritual growth with Tyler’s physical growth, and Bobby’s some assembly required. Praise God that He is at work within us, transforming us and changing us. But that in no way limits our responsibility to work out our spiritual growth. I love how Paul says it in Colossians 1:29 And for this purose also I labor (toil to the point of exhaustion), striving (like an athlete stretching every muscle to cross the finish line) according to His power, which mightily works within me.
January 2nd, 2008
So glad you’re feeling better!!
January 2nd, 2008
Welcome back to the blogosphere, Sis! I’m glad you’re feeling better. Thanks for these thoughts for the New Year!
January 2nd, 2008
Living for His praise…yes and amen!
January 2nd, 2008
I’m so glad the Lord has brought healing into your home! This is a great post, and it coincides perfectly with my reading this morning from The Pursuit of Holiness, by Jerry Bridges. May 2008 find us stepping heavenward with purpose and healthy growth!
January 3rd, 2008
Hi Christa! I’m glad you’re feeling better.
Your little one is getting so big! They grow so fast, it’s hard to believe how time flies. I do get lots of comments on how cute Luke is - the most fun ones, though, are the toddlers who get excited to see a baby when I’m out and about. 
January 4th, 2008
I’m so glad to hear you are feeling better and am so inspired by your words of encouragement! What a blessing to have found your Website. I am looking forward to gaining insight from your wise counsel and your beautiful heart for the Lord!!! Love, Kel