Three Invitations Jesus Has For You
At this point, it's highly likely you've rung in the new year and written down some new year's resolutions multiple times now. And by now, you're probably accustomed to cultural cliches like "new year, new me" or the sarcastic commitments to resolutions that you expect to fizzle out by February. So, maybe it's worth pausing to be intentionally curious so you may step into the new year with resolution of who you are becoming, rather than resolutions of what you are expecting.
As you look back on how you began the previous year, look around and what you're noticing, and look ahead on living well this new year, practice the WIN:
What did you do well (look back)?
What did you learn that will help you improve (look around)?
What do you want to do differently next time (look ahead)?
It's easy to have all kinds of expectations with particular outcomes, but listen to what Jesus has to say in Matthew 11:29-30: "Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Here are three invitations Jesus has for you:
You are invited to PRESENCE: Presence is all about relationship. Jesus beckons, "walk with me and work with me," not walk toward me and not work for me, but with me. God is always up to something, and invites you to participate with him!
You are invited with PROMISES: In and with God's presence, there is so much promise of good! That's not to say there will be a lack of challenge or hardship, but God promises his presence! He says in keeping company with him, you will learn to live freely and lightly!
You are invited to PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE: There is practice in learning to walk with Jesus, and there is purpose in learning to work with Jesus. Keeping company with Jesus takes purposeful practice. He invites you to watch and learn with the unforced rhythms of grace.
On the corner of a passing year and a newly emerging one, practice the win around God's presence:
What went well in keeping company with God? Look back on this year and identify who you're becoming and who you're becoming like?
What did you learn in keeping company with God that you want to improve or further pursue? Whose support do you need? What unforced rhythms of grace are you learning?
What do you need to do differently in this next year to keep company with God? How will you purposely practice walking and working with Jesus?
Dallas Willard says, "Grace is not opposed to effort. It is opposed to earning. Effort is action. Earning is attitude. You have never seen people more active than those who have been set on fire by the grace of God." So, with the act of effort, may this year be marked by walking, working, watching, and learning to live freely and lightly with Jesus!