The new year has arrived; it has been ushered in with celebrations and greeted with resolutions, most of which will fail. Rather than the annual bulletin article to encourage “spiritual resolutions,” let us consider a series of questions, each framed with the idea of “will 2022 be the year.”
Will 2022 be the year that you make my life right with God? Am I walking in the light with God? If not, how long have I been living with my soul in jeopardy? Are there things in my life that need to be corrected? If I gain the whole world but lose my soul, what have I gained? (Mt. 16:26) Will 2022 be the year that I put on Christ in baptism? Will 2022 be the year that I confess and repent of open sin? Will this year be the year that I make my life right with God?
Will 2022 be the year that I put my faith into action? One may respond by saying, “I put my faith into action when I obeyed the gospel.” My reply to that is, “Great! What have you done since?” Baptism is not the end of obedience but the beginning of the Christian life. It is being born into the family of God (Jn. 3:3). As a Christian, I am the “workmanship” of God “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Eph. 2:10). What good works am I doing? Will 2022 be the year that I put my faith into action by getting up from the pew and getting involved in church work?
Will 2022 be the year that I return to public worship? Why have I become inconsistent in attending public worship? Why have I completely stopped attending public worship? Have I allowed life to get in the way? Have Covid fears become an easy excuse? Is worship streamed on YouTube easier and more convenient for me? What is the reason that I have decided to dismiss inspired admonitions and examples of Christians gathering together on the first day of the week to worship with the saints and commemorate the Lord’s death? (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2) Will 2022 be the year that I return to public worship?
Will 2022 be the year that I increase my Bible knowledge? How many years have I been a Christian? From the time of my baptism till the present, has my knowledge in God’s Word increased? Do I know enough to teach someone else? (Heb. 5:12) Do I have the ability to defend the hope I have in Christ? (1 Pt. 3:15) Do I open my Bible only during Bible class or the Sunday morning sermon? Will 2022 be the year that I increase my Bible knowledge?
Will 2022 be the year that I bring a soul to Christ? Why have I never put into practice the New Testament example of Christians teaching others? (Acts 8:4; 11:19; 18:26; 2 Tim. 2:2) Why did I so quickly embrace the idea that personal evangelism is the work of the preacher, the elders, or the deacon “over evangelism,” but not mine? Will 2022 be the year that I bring a soul to Christ?
Will 2022 be the year I do more than attend Bible classes and worship services? There is much work to do in the local church. Some of it may require more skill, talent, and even time that I may have to give. However, I could prepare the Lord’s Supper for Sunday worship. I can also help open and close the building from time to time. I can be a part of helping prepare food for others. I can even host the youth group in my home for monthly devotionals. Will 2022 be the year I do more than attend Bible classes and worship services?
These are just a few thoughts that I have regarding the year 2022. I will share more next week. What thoughts do you have? What will the year 2022 be to you?
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