Another year gone. They go so fast. I was in my teens when my mother said to me that the older one gets, the faster time seems to go. As a youth, I thought that was nonsense. I think that was yesterday when she said that and today, I know she was right.

The thing that strikes me most about growing old though is that “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22). Being assured of this, I am resolved that in this coming year, I might serve Him better and more faithfully.

A lot of my recent reading has left me feeling this. I just completed another book about a woman coming to Christ in her Muslim dominated world. Well taught as a child and so devout to Islam that she volunteered to die and kill for radical Islam (Defying Jihad by Esther Ahmad and Craig Borlase). Yet through that dark veil blinding her childish eyes, God penetrated her heart and claimed her for Himself. A remarkable story as are so many others from countries around the world where Christians are heavily persecuted. After moving to this country, which this woman thought of as “Christian,” she wonders why no one goes to the churches or aligns themselves with other Christians when there is this tremendous freedom to do so. 

I am convicted. We in this country can become so complacent in our daily Christian lives. I do go to church and I do navigate among born again believers, but still I neglect so many of the blessings available to me. My prayer life can become stagnant from time to time, my time with God overlooked, the deep desire to know God better often distracted by trivia. 

I become guilty when I read about the sufferings of these others. This woman was trained by her Moslem religion to get up at 3am and pray. After becoming a believer in Jesus Christ, doing this became even more vital to her spiritual well-being, which leaves me wondering how committed I am as well as believers around me to the cause of Christ. Going months without any Bible or any contact with other Christians, she read it constantly when she finally got one and memorized large portions. She even gave her only copy away to a Moslem woman who was debating her publicly about her faith. She did this under the threat of being killed and she did it because she believed God would not let His Word be spread without effect.

Our lethargic spiritual lives mostly say nothing to the world around us. The powerful fire of the Holy Spirit that should be ignited and shining brightly in our day-to-day lives is at best smoldering embers. Often it is only when we face difficult trials that our true colors, our dedication to the cause of Christ, burst into flame.

I come to 2025 with a burning desire to do better; and so the stories I present this year are a call to service as they themselves introduce some of God’s people who are uniquely, passionately, and unashamedly, serving the triune God. Some are individuals, some are organized groups. All are motivated and inspired by their love for Jesus Christ, who has loved us and given His life as a servant on behalf of us. In turn, He calls us to be living sacrifices for Him.

We must get over ourselves, empty ourselves of self, pride and foolish ambition so that we can be full of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. C. John Miller writes in The Heart of a Servant Leader about a woman named Florence Allshorn who said, “she learned that she could always be a positive person of faith when she didn’t care ‘two hoots about what happened to [her].’ Once she became dedicated to fostering Christ’s love in others and helping with their welfare she was free from the burden of a hard and unyielding ego.”

How ego and pride can impede us on our journey. Thaddeus Barnum writes in Real Love: Where Bible and Life Meet, “I fear there are times, way too many times, when I [pastor] without my heart. I stay distant and hidden, not even aware of it. Nor am I aware that my soul is covered in a pride that has blinded my eyes, dulled my ears, and hardened my heart.”

I see the same in myself when I compare myself to others. Sometimes I see myself as better than others (pride), or sometimes much less (shame), or sometimes longing to be like someone else (jealousy). These things happen whenever I take my eyes off Jesus and trust in my righteousness instead of His. 

My thoughts as I volunteer to deliver a meal to a home where the odor of filth greets me long before I get to the door can be that this is a disgrace, instead of here is a fellow human being struggling to stay alive in a world that doesn’t see him. God give me the eyes to see him.

My thoughts as I see my grown children, thriving with their own families—and remember the baby whose life I terminated before he had the opportunities that they have; instead of the fact that God’s love and mercy was extended to me and I am forgiven and free—that baby now safely with Jesus. That God is still using my testimony to show others Himself. Thank you, God, for Your forgiveness, for making me Your child, and for making beauty from ashes.

My thoughts as I see large, beautiful homes, families with ample money to pay the bills and no debts, parents who can help their children financially and leave them money when they die—instead of seeing how much the Lord has blessed me in spite of not having those things. I am grateful, God, for the life you have given me. I have never been out of your care and have lacked nothing.

Mo Aiken writes in her book Fully Known, “He leads us to give up what is not of Him so we can receive what is of Him: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Truly as we give ourselves to Him, as we abide in His Word, as we obediently follow Him, our love and desire for Him increases. When we continually spend time in His presence, He reveals Himself to us more and more clearly. Our jar of blessings never empties and the light of Jesus continues to shine brightly in our lives to those around us.

Aiken summarizes it this way: “To know God is to desire to make Him known.” In other words to serve Him. “Because,” Aiken continues, “to know God is to love God, and loving God always, always, always catalyzes us to rightly love others.”

We learn of our purpose first in the Old Testament and the ways and attitudes to accomplish it: 

And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD

your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your 

heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

—Deuteronomy 10:12, 13a

But it doesn’t change much in the New Testament except that Jesus has come and demonstrated a better picture of His Father—His love and graciousness toward us. That is the spirit Jesus showed as He humbly served us by giving His life as our ransom from sin and set His righteousness upon us. That is the spirit of the Apostle Paul’s instruction to us once we have named Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be

patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer, Contribute to the needs of the saints and 

seek to show hospitality.

  –Romans 12:11

So often when we try to explain the gospel, even to the discredit of some evangelical churches, we define it in far simpler terms than stipulated by Scripture. Calling on the name of the Lord is a deep, deep commitment that is the very core of who we are and who God calls us to be. Christianity is not merely a name, but sometimes that’s all that is noticeable in our confession that Jesus is our Lord. In 2025, I want to further that commitment, to acknowledge and repent of the times I fail, to know God more, to meditate on His word more, and to serve Him better.

Miller gives us some instruction on how important prayer is to this process. “Don’t ask people to repent when you have not first done it….Praying should include, among other things, a love offensive with:

1. Constantly forgiving, not suppressing angry feelings
2. Constantly blessing
3. Doing deeds of love where this is possible”

For my personal reminder this year, I’m claiming 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your

whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming oof our Lord Jesus Christ.

The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

I’m closing with parts of two prayers from The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. I think they are appropriate prayers for all of us in the new year as we seek to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

                                                                  Make me an almoner to give thy

bounties to the indigent,

comfort to the mentally ill,

restoration to the sin-diseased,

hope to the despairing,

joy to the sorrowing,

love to the prodigals.

Blow away the ashes of unbelief by thy Spirit’s breath,

and give me light, fire, and warmth of love.

Lord, use me as thou wilt,

Do with me what thou wilt;

But, O, promote thy cause,

Let thy kingdom come, 

Let thy blessed interest be advanced in this world.

So be it! For you and for me in the coming year.