Make this the Year!
John Hopper—
How many times have you started the year with every intention to lose weight, get in better shape, read more books, or save more money, only to find yourself right where you started by the time February rolls around? Based on public surveys, you are not alone.
But to be honest, I’m not so sure that falling short when it comes to resolutions like these is very important when all is said and done.
Imagine standing inside the pearly gates, waiting to hear what rewards you will receive for the things you did on earth. That might seem like a make-believe scene, but given what we see in Scripture, it’s probably not far from what we ought to expect (2 Corinthians 5:10; Psalm 62:12). As you stand before God, do you think He will say, “Well, I had some good things in store for you, but since you didn’t lose those 15 pounds back in 2019 or only read half the books you said you were going to read in 2021, I can only reward you with this”?
Like you, I don’t think He will say that. And I don’t think He will say that because what’s important to God is often not what has become important to us or those around us (1 Samuel 16:7b, Luke 16:15).
So what is pleasing in God’s sight? Or, when it comes to the New Year, what kinds of resolutions are truly worth our attention?
The first and last of Jesus’ instruction to His disciples let us know. When Jesus first gathered the Twelve, He said, “Follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (Matthew 4:19, NIV). And when He readied Himself to leave them after the resurrection, He said, “Go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:18, NIV). In other words, what was clearly important to Jesus is that His followers had their minds set on the same goal He has—to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).
So while other resolutions have some value, a resolve to reach out to others in the name of Jesus should be on every Christian’s list. It should also be one that doesn’t fizzle out as the new year progresses.
To that end, let me give you a couple of resources that can help you share Jesus with others. First is my book, Giving Jesus Away. It is filled with practical, real-life insights that can help you get past your hesitancies and fears so you can begin to find joy in sharing Jesus with others. The second is the Reach Video Series, a fabulous collection of short videos that invite you to learn from a variety of Search staff about building friendships with unbelievers and starting conversations about the Good News.
So make this the year! Make it the year you make sharing Jesus with those who don’t know Him your most important resolution. It’s a resolution worth keeping!
John Hopper is the Executive Director of REACH, the evangelism training arm of Search Ministries. He served 16 years as a pastor in Houston, Texas, completed his doctoral studies at Biola University, and is the author of Questioning God? and Giving Jesus Away. He loves his wife, tennis, and apple pie in very different levels of magnitude!
