Once again it is hard to believe that we have closed out the old year and opened a new one! I wonder what 2012 holds for us here on this planet we call Earth. Will it be like other years with its share of good, bad and ordinary news. Will there be heart pounding market fluctuations, heart stopping international crises and heart warming human incidents? Probably!
What I ask myself is, “Will 2012 be a year that I personally will be able to look back on with satisfaction?” What will I do this year? How will I live my life? Will I be more conscious of eternity and the shortness of time? Will I follow Jesus more closely? Will I keep more in step with the Spirit of God? Will I love and study the Scriptures more deeply? What will others notice about me this year? Will my family, friends and neighbours see anything different from previous years? Will I be a better man, husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, neighbour, friend, employee? Will I be self focused or others focused? Will people around me recognize that I have been with Jesus this year? Will it just be an “ordinary” year or will it be different?
As I consider those questions a good word from Peter’s pen comes to mind.
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” (2 Peter 1:2-7 NIV)
I pray that those truths will be a reality for both you and me in 2012. May God richly bless you and draw you closer to Himself. May you know His “grace and peace” in abundance.