GodReflection:
Another year has flown by. Thank you for reading over my shoulder. I continue to affirm God grants me with greater understanding for my own growth when I place my thoughts on paper. If you have been blessed in the process—I am elated. I hope it does not come across as arrogant or selfish to affirm how much God enriches my life through the effort of placement of a year’s worth of words in print.
It seems as if only a few days ago we were at the same spot. It’s that time of year when one-year ends and a new one arrives. As we close one year and start another, I’m drawn to the prophet Isaiah’s vision of the Holy Gift-Baby that was God born human.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2). For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
I end this year impressed anew with the miracle of Jesus birth. I am grateful his stable arrival invites both lowly and royalty into God’s family. I am challenged again to grasp the significance of how God Himself–to make eternal life and a restored earth a reality for me– was born as baby Jesus and laid in a feed trough.
However, the baby Jesus did not remain baby. I must live into the new year in submission to the Jesus who grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). He was and is always Savior, but he grew into Teacher. The gift of God’s grace made possible through the cross and resurrection is only mine if I allow the baby and Teacher to be my Lord.
The song Silent Night affirms the truth: Son of God, love’s pure light; radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus was born Lord. The question I must consider once again as year number 2023 closes and a new one begins is this: What does it look like to recognize the grown baby as my Lord?
Jesus is not for hire as MY advisor. He is not for hire as MY spiritual life coach. I can’t make him MY Santa Claus. He is to be Lord of my life. He cannot guide a life I control.
The truth is I will live imperfectly in 2024 just as I did in 2023. But that’s what makes God’s birth as baby Jesus good news. He knows that and loves me anyway. That is the significance of the Christmas story. This Lord came to rule with Truth and Grace.
So once again, I face a new year with the same challenge and the same comfort with which I faced the year gone before me. My challenge is to treat everyone around me as the Lord of Truth has treated me. AND my comfort comes from the Lord of Grace who loves me even when I don’t get it right. That is why God was born as baby Jesus.
It is my prayer for each one of us that in 2024 our lives will resemble more the real Jesus. The one sent as, The Word [who] became flesh and made his dwelling among us—who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: An Early Close For 2023.
God Reflection 