END OF YEAR REFLECTIONS

The year began with tons and tons of resolutions for most of us as usual, passionately desiring ‘success’
with dreamy eyes and attitudes floating in the skies. I wonder how many have been able to achieve half
the things they set out to achieve? Take heart and be strong, you are not alone in this quest and surely
we shall find a way forward in the coming weeks.

My greatest concern today pertains to our resolutions in spiritual matters, especially for those of us who
claim we are Christians. Let’s reflect on our faith in Christ and relationship with God within some specific
parameters which I perceive are often neglected and see if we are truly ready to become better
Christians in the coming year.

Our Identity in Christ

When we know who we are and whose we are, life is way much simpler and full of purpose as opposed
to when we are utterly clueless or wishy-washy about our existence. The Christian identifies with Christ,
his deity and his mission on earth. We are not Christians in the sense of the 80% statistical analysis of
the religious community in Kenya, but followers of Jesus Christ: the way, the truth and the life.

Jesus Christ is both savior and Lord, he must have all of you fully given and submitted to him. Every
aspect of your life, both private and public must be yielded to Christ. If you are genuinely a Christian,
you must purpose to grow in your knowledge and devotion to Christ in all things. You are a disciple of
Christ, and so I urge you to live up to your identity and let your light shine.

Our relationship with the World

The glorious Scriptures in James 4:4 tells us, “………. friendship with the world is enmity with God.” How
we relate with world matters in our faith as believers. We ought to strive to please God and not men in
our daily endeavors. The world is constantly offering us sweet delicacies with which to gratify our
insatiable sinful appetites, but in reality all these are deceitful in nature and detrimental to our souls. We
are not of this world, we have been bought at a price and so let’s seek to please our Lord in how we
relate with the world.

The world around us is dying in sin and if we don’t separate from its patterns we shall likewise perish. I
am not saying we don’t relate with those who are not Christians, even the bible doesn’t give such
imperatives. On the other hand, I implore you brethren to stand out in the midst of all moral filth, with a
distinct Christ-like character which affects and transforms the environment around it. Love the lost,
share the gospel faithfully and leave the rest to God. Only Christ saves!

Our relationship with the Word of God

God’s word is the main source of revelation he has ordained to make himself known by the believer.
Therefore, how we relate to the holy Scriptures matters a lot. When Scripture speaks, God speaks. Are
we ready to listen? A robust faith will only result when we evaluate how we view and interact with our
bibles. If the bible remains to be just one of the many ways of divine revelations then we are headed
down a sloppy path, full of confusion and doctrinal aberrations.
 Let’s take counsel in the words of Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be
complete, equipped for every good work.” The Christian faith is not lived out by feelings, intuitions and
impressions but on the surety of the holy word of the living God.

Our relationship with God’s people

We all assemble together as believers in a church. The church is the primary means through which we
fellowship together as believers, grow and corporately encourage one another in God’s word. Its biblical
to belong to a local congregation no matter how imperfect the people are. We are all on a journey in our
sanctification, and if all of us individually focus in growing in love for one another, our churches would
reflect the love of God more conspicuously.

Christ tells his disciples before he departs in John 15: 12, “This is my commandment, that you love one
another as I have loved you.” The reason we seek to grow in love for one another is because God loved
us first and he also commands it. Let us learn to identify with the interest of Christ in other people’s
lives. Love is the greater gift and without it, no matter how gifted and skilled you are in ministry you are
nothing!

Personal holiness

Holiness is not an option my beloved brethren. Christ made you holy when he redeemed you, so that
your quest for holiness is not one that makes you gain acceptance or merit before God the Father, but
one that manifests the fact that you are indeed redeemed. It is the practical outflow of the holiness
received from God. I am sure some of us think that holiness is an outdated concept for believers in the
21st century. It should be clear that such a notion is unbiblical and misguided.

The bible calls us to consider him who called us, his holy nature and then follow in that revelation. More
precisely examine what Peter says in 1 st Peter 1: 14-16, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to
the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your
conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Perseverance and the Cost of Christianity

Our faith is a walk through the narrow gate and perseverance is essential. It is not a path paved with
gold but the mature faith in Christ obtained through perseverance is of greater worth than gold. God has
promised sufficient grace for those who will trust in him no matter the situation. Our generation loves
the easy life and we all want to make it and be successful at a minimal cost and effort.

There is a cost involved in following Jesus. Look at what Jesus tells the crowd in the book of Luke 14: 26-
27, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and
brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own
cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

To follow Christ, you must hate your life. You will be shamed and ridiculed for your faith at every turn.
You will miss opportunities. You will not be the coolest and trendiest like your peers. Friends and family
will shun you at times or even think you are misguided and wasting your life, but if you are going to be a
disciple of Christ then strap up and follow your master with gladness. This is your calling; you must die
daily.
A theology of suffering

Suffering will always be a part of life here on earth, in one way or another. The mature believer is called
to give thanks in all circumstances. James the apostle encourages us (James 1: 2-4), “Count it all joy, my
brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in
nothing.” Suffering works in the life of believers to sanctify us and help us grow more and more into
Christ likeness, and so we must endeavor to have a sound theology of suffering as believers so that we
do not fall prey to false teachings that seek to distort our faith. All things work for good and God’s grace
is sufficient in all situations.

I pray that as we reflect upon these weighty matters, may God draw us to make resolutions in the
coming year that esteem him above all things and intentionally desire to grow in our passion and love
for God in all things for his glory alone. Shalom