Ah 2012. A New Year to enjoy – what will it bring? Could it be our last on planet earth? If it is the end of the world I’d better make some pretty massive resolutions.
My New Year’s resolution this January is to get a new mind! Sure I could resolve to be a better person and recycle more, but I reckon that’s just tinkering. The major vision and pursuit of my life hasn’t changed. As a follower of ‘the God who both lives among us and is coming back soon’ I live every year like it’s possibly the last. (Matt. 24:36; 28:20; Acts 1:9-11)
My struggle is not “how do I change the world for good?” – there’s untold opportunity to make huge differences through faithful Christ-centred organisations. My challenge is to keep my thinking faithfully focused on the God who is ABLE.
The next key, I believe, is to combine that vision with activity. I want to continue to actively involve myself with what God is doing here in New Zealand, and to the ends of the earth. The world is changing fast and it’s the actions of individuals like you and I that are making the difference, the Mubaraks and the Gadhafis are now making history with the greatness of their falls! It’s the unconscious Egyptian woman in the blue bra that sealed the tone of the Arab Spring in 2011 – how’s that for possible! She followed her heart, faced the risks, and stood her ground.
Peter and the disciples took a while to “get it in their heads” that Christ-followers change the world, and they lived with Jesus for three years! So don’t beat yourself up, but choose now to take the initiative with yourself and determine to set your course in 2012 according to God’s will.
“Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without thinking. Instead fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you … ” Romans 12:2 The Message
Practically: Put your attention and resources with people and organisations that have vision way beyond your town, city or country. God’s purposes and activity involve all the nations everywhere, so don’t settle for anything less for your own influence in 2012. Don’t think small, think huge, the whole world, all the nations, high impact, awesome difference…
Happy New Year
from Matt Perry & Far East Broadcasting Company
Awesome. thanks for this. keep up d great energy in sharing ur thoughts.