Another new year begins. While we put away our Christmas decorations, we reminisce on joyous moments and hear lyrical echoes like “Truly He taught us to love one another.” That is the indelible mark the Christmas season has left on many hearts as we enter a new year.
Resolution Time Again
It’s a new year for new commitments, new promises, and new resolutions. How shall we make a meaningful difference this year? Some choose the same old resolutions like losing weight, lower debt, exercise more. All these have good intentions, but how about choosing something more ambitious that yields far greater, everlasting results?
Choosing to do God’s work will surely be the best decision any believer can make. But what will that be? Some people have unique talents that can be useful in fulfilling the Great Commission. Others have no talent at all. But every effort can carry significant weight in furthering the Gospel to lost souls, no matter how small.
Love One Another
Jesus left us with a great commandment that any believer can fulfill. It doesn’t require special skills, a training course, or monetary investment – simply a will to do it.
John 13:34: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
If we cannot show love toward others, how will anyone listen to the Gospel message we bring? To love one another was one of Jesus’ final words to us. He brought us this new commandment to enable us to fulfill His work. Jesus knew that those who followed Him had various skill levels to reach the lost, but all efforts are in vain if we do not have love toward others. Only then can we glorify God in helping to further the Gospel.
Purveyors of Love
If there was one thing all believers can understand, it is love. We became followers of Jesus Christ because we recognized God’s love toward us, that He first loved us, and we love Him for it. Love is the foundation of our Christian belief and the engine for spreading His Gospel. Love is the motivation to carry us through this new year in His work.
Jesus taught us that love is the key to breaking down all barriers. We are to love one another, love our brethren, love our neighbors, and love our enemies. Love opens doors, opens ears, opens minds. And that’s where we have to be to share the Gospel message with others, to have them listen to God’s message. Love is the ministry gift above all others, even greater than faith and hope.
John 5:9: “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
John 5:10: “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
John 5:11: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
John 5:12: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
A No-Fail Resolution
If you’re making a meaningful resolution this year, make it count. Unlike losing weight or exercising more, loving one another is not a losing proposition. There is no downside, only an upside with eternal consequences for you and the lives you touch.
Put it into practice right away. Pray and ask God how you can show love toward others every day. You will be amazed at the opportunities God puts in your way. The mere fact that you show love is the light that attracts others toward the Gospel. You are a living, breathing example of God’s love. You are heaven-sent to do God’s bidding, equipped to share His love.
This is a no-fail resolution you can repeat year after year and gain more heavenly returns on your investment. Now, that’s a new year’s resolution you can count on to yield real results that are truly out of this world.
Learn more about the ministry gift of love or watch it here.