A New Year A New You Part Ii

A New Year A New You Part II

Story is told of a pastor who was making a call to a visitor that had visited the church and so he called and a little boy answered and the preacher said hello who is this and in a whisper he heard the voice that said Jimmy. And the preacher said well Jimmy is your mother there and he said yes but she’s busy. So the preacher said well how about your dad is he there? And the boy whispered yes but he’s busy too. Preacher then said well is there another adult in the house that I could talk to and the little boy said yes the police are here. And so the preacher a little worried said may I speak to the police and the boy said well there busy. And then the preacher said well is there anyone else there and the boy said well the firemen are here but there busy too. And so the preacher asked Jimmy he said son all these people are busy what are they doing and the little boy said There looking for me.

Well as we continue our study of a New Year and A New You I want us to continue to examine our lives. Last week we examined our lives by looking at a mirror and our reflection, we looked at the poinsettia flowers and understood the importance of being connected to God and if we are not connected to Him then we will dry up and finally we looked at a glass of water and understood the importance of putting more God in and less dirt into our lives.

Well today I want to continue on the theme of examination and I also want to use an additional three objects to determine how we live life. If you turn with me to James 4: 13-15 you will hear the verse that we used last week talking about the importance of examining ourselves today and not wait for tomorrow. I encouraged us to live for God today and I wonder how we have been doing with that. So often when we read our bibles or hear a Sunday school lesson or message we learn about the truths of God’s Word and we hear how to apply it but we forget or get to busy and put off the application part of the lesson. But as we begin a New Year let’s begin it with a new You.

James 4:13-15 says: Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will we will live and do this or that.”

Friends today is the day to live for God. Today is the day that we give our all to God. Today is the day that we sacrifice for God. Today is the day that we hear from God. To day is the day that we seek God. Today is the day that we long for God. Today is the day that we will serve God. Amen?

We must seize the day. Carpe Diem. If you and I want a new you this New Year then it must begin with you. I am here today to tell you that there are things that all of us need to change. There are things that we need to improve upon. There are things that we need to let go of. But these things must be acknowledged and acted upon by you and me. We hear all the time people saying I want a new look. Well if all we do is talk about a new look then odds are we are not going to get that new look. Rather it requires that you and I do something about it. For instance, I will be honest with you. I want to be in good shape I want to eat right and I know that I am young but I really want to look as good as possible. Well I know that in order to keep my body in better shape than that of a bulldog that I must exercise and work out. I started feeling this way about 8 months ago. And it just so happened that not too long after saying I wished that I had somewhere to work out the fire department was given several really nice weight machines. I thought great I can come over here every morning and work out and then go to work. Well that lasted all of one day. I began to find one excuse after another too much trouble, too much time, too far away, too hot too cold, etc. Well then about four months later a good friend of mine came to me and said I need to get rid of a weight machine and I was not going to ask you but I decided to anyway. Well this was great I have a nice weight machine that is in my garage. It’s right there and yet I still find it difficult to work out on it everyday because I am always trying to find an excuse to put it off until tomorrow. But If I want a new look if I want a healthier life then I must not put it off any longer and must be proactive in using that equipment.