Brothers and Sisters,

Greetings to you all in this new year. I thank God when I think of you.

One of the “things” about the end of one year and the beginning of another is book lists. I have probably read 10 lists of people’s favourite books for 2023. Do you have some books you have really appreciated and been helped by? Do you have a plan for how to read good books in the year to come?

Another “thing” is articles about the benefits and criticisms of resolutions. I would expect that some of us have done quite a bit of evaluating the year that is past and planning for the new year. I would also expect that some of us do not do so, and would even be suspicious of them. To each his or her own.

But Caleb Davis reminds us of this sobering truth:

The wasted life is possible. It is a lurking enemy we must be aware of. Talents can be buried, time can be squandered, opportunities can be missed. You will not drift towards the vision of life God has for you. Seriously, let that sink in. You will not accidentally end up building an excellent life. We can spin our wheels, put out fires, run in circles, fill up our calendars, and yet still be missing what God has.

I would agree with this. I am meditating on 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 this week, and there Paul warns the Corinthian church that they needed to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ, but that their building materials could be quality and even costly (gold, silver, precious stones) or common and cheap (wood, hay, straw). To the naked eye, the construction of a life or church or ministry might look similar no matter what building materials are used, but there will come “the Day” when the construction will be inspected by Christ Jesus our Lord, and some will “suffer loss” while others will “receive a reward.” I want to be part of that second group, but I am increasingly aware that doesn’t happen by accident nor even by good intention.

Caleb Davis wrote an article outlining his actionable plan of “Connection, Reflection, Direction, and Intention.” I think it is helpful and encourage you to read it and act on it, as God’s Holy Spirit directs you. (I thought through it and then sent it to a group of people in my church as a discussion starter for our ministries.)

May God bless you and keep you.

Andrew