New Beginnings and Do-Overs: A Call For Action For 2024

Introduction

It is customary at the end of the year to think about accomplishments and evaluate failures. Many use this time to look at goals that might have been set the previous year and if they were achieved. I struggle with that because I feel I never do good enough. However, it is always good to evaluate where you are as compared to where you might want to be. More importantly, we need to evaluate as a body of believers if we are still in line to what we say we are and what we believe. For example, we as Christians believe that Jesus is central to our lives and He is our redeemer, creator, and revealer. A good evaluation might be to look and see if our lives are really showing and living as if Jesus was indeed central to everything we are. When we discover that can do better, we need to have a call to action. The Church of Colosse was experiencing this very thing. The Colossians seemed to allow false teachings come in and influence their thoughts. They regarded it as a philosophy, but Paul called it human tradition and empty deceit. Unfortunately, we as members of the body in general have moved from Christ-centered living to what ever is best for the individual at the moment. We have become opera singers…Me me me me me me! The call of Christ is to focus on something different.

We need a new beginning and a do-over.

As we go into a New Year, I am led to share with you a call to action. After much prayer, thought and deliberation, I feel led to share with you this morning from Colossians 4:2-6

Colossians 4:2–6 NIV84

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Notice for distinct parts of an action plan that the Apostle Paul has outlined for us here. First, there is call to pray.

A Call To Pray (vs. 2)

Colossians 4:2 NIV84

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

More than ever in the history of mankind, there is a need for God-fearing, Bible-believing, Christ-centered Christians to devote themselves to prayer. I am not talking about “Bless grandma for her in-grown toenail”, or “Help me Lord to get a better job.” I am talking about praying for the will of God, for revival in our land and for souls to be saved. Paul tells the Colossians that it is time to devote to prayer. The phrase that is used literally means “to be busily engaged in prayer.” What does that mean?

Pray with Diligence

First, it means to pray with diligence. What does it mean to pray with diligence? It is not just an occasional emergency, but it is an intense and persistent type of prayer. The word devote helps us understand this more. The original Greek word means “to continue steadfastly.” Another definition says that it means “to be busily engaged in.” Jesus taught that prayer should be a time and place that is set aside specifically for prayer and not a time of interruption.

Matthew 6:6 NIV84

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Are you praying with diligence?

Pray with Awareness

We are also to be watchful when we pray. This means to pray with awareness. Watchful means to give strict attention to and to be cautionary active. It is as attentive as if one was on guard duty. Jesus wanted His disciples to pray with awareness. Matthew 26:41

Matthew 26:41 NIV84

41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Mark 14:34 NIV84

34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

One writer put it this way: “The word translated ‘watch’ means ‘to have the alertness of a guard at night.’ A night watchman must be even more vigilant than a daytime guard. In the daytime, danger can often be spotted from a distance. But in the night everything is different. A night watchman must use senses other than sight to detect danger. He is often alone in the darkness and without the defenses he would otherwise employ. There may be no indications of enemy attack until it happens, so he must be hyper-vigilant, suspecting it at any moment.” In order to keep watch, we must remove all distractions. Hebrews 12:2

Hebrews 12:2 NIV84

2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Will your eyes be fixed on Jesus this upcoming year?

Are you praying with alertness?

Pray with Gratitude

We are to be thankful. That means we are to pray with gratitude. I find myself in every prayer thanking God for something. I have been told before that it was “vain repetition.” I will never get tired of saying “Thank you Lord for your goodness, love and mercy, and for the redemption of my sins!”

Philippians 4:6 NIV84

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

We have a call of action to pray. We have a call of action to proclaim.

A Call To Proclaim (vs. 3-4)

Colossians 4:3–4 NIV84

3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Proclaim Christ

First and foremost, we must be about proclaiming Christ. We must proclaim that Jesus Christ is God’s plan of redemption for all humanity. Ephesians 1:7

Ephesians 1:7 NIV84

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

As we proclaim Christ, we are proclaiming change.

Proclaim Change

Our world needs to know that change through Christ can happen!

Isaiah 61:1–3 NIV84

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

In proclaiming Christ and proclaiming change, we are proclaiming our conviction.

Proclaim Conviction

Do you believe that Jesus is Lord of all? Do you believe that Jesus can make all things new? Do you believe that others would benefit greatly from receiving Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior? Paul believed this message so much and would not back down from it. In fact, we learn from Colossians 4:3 that he writes this letter while in chains! Is your conviction strong enough that you would be imprisoned? I think that many of us fall short when the pressure rises. However, we must not back down from the conviction Christ has placed in our hearts and minds. We are called to pray and we are called to proclaim.

Verse 5 tells us we have a call to perceive.

A Call to Perceive (vs. 5)

I mentioned earlier that we are saturated with false teachings and we have to be careful as we discern and perceive truth. We must also perceive those that are around us, especially those unbelievers that God places in our path. Colossians 4:5

Colossians 4:5 NIV84

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Be Wise

We are to be wise. Wisdom is a great gift from God. Proverbs 2:10

Proverbs 2:10 NIV84

10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Wisdom will also help you help others. Wisdom comes from God and it is practical and transformational. It reflects God’s values and His character.

Be Aware

Just like in prayer, we are to be constantly aware and especially aware of those around us. Never be so engulfed in your own world that you miss an opportunity!

Ephesians 5:15–16 NIV84

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

We are to follow the example of Christ as God’s pattern for full and authentic human living! Therefore, as we are called to perceive, we need to be ready!

Be Ready

Do you make the most of every opportunity? 1 Peter 3:15

1 Peter 3:15 NIV84

15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

We are called for action. We are called to pray like never before. We are called to proclaim Christ in every opportunity that is given to us. We are called to perceive all that is around us and tune in to what God has called us to do and be. And, we are to called to persevere.

A Call to Persevere (vs. 6)

Colossians 4:6 NIV84

6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

This reminds me that I need to be a person that is interesting.

Be Interesting

If my conversation is to be full of grace and seasoned with flavor, I need to make sure that what goes in my heart is pure and true.

Psalm 19:14 NIV84

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

What is going into your heart? Part of our call to action for 2024 will be guarding our hearts! This is a good place to remind us of

Proverbs 4:23 NIV84

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Our conversation will spring up from what is in our heart. I love the analogy Paul uses of salt. In the ancient world as in ours, salt was used to preserve food and enhance flavor. Conversation that is figuratively seasoned with salt will be uplifting and encouraging. Theologian Dr. Norman T. Wright says, “Christians are to work at making their witness interesting, lively and colorful; at the same time, to ensure they have thoroughly mastered the rudiment of their faith so they will know how to answer everyone.”

We are to persevere by in being interesting and we are to persevere by being graceful.

Be Graceful

The word for grace is charis which means goodwill and loving kindness. So think about this, if we showed goodwill and loving kindness to those that God placed in our paths, imagine what could happen! Others would be drawn to us and opportunities to share Christ could be manifested. Paul certainly set the example in this. Ephesians 3:7-9

Ephesians 3:7–9 NIV84

7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Are you a servant of the gospel of Christ? Then our call for action is to be able.

Be Able

God does not call us to do something then leave us alone. Psalm 18:32

Psalm 18:32 NIV84

32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

God has called us into action. He has called us to pray. We don’t need another holy huddle to say bless this and bless that…We need to pray in a way that demonstrates thanksgiving for our salvation and that enables to be the people He desires. We are called to an action plan that calls us to proclaim the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We are called to perceive others around us and point them to Jesus. We are called to persevere. Now is the time for a new beginning. Now is time for a do over. 2023 is over. It is time to stop looking in the rear-view mirror and put our eyes on the prize of our Lord Jesus Christ, put the pedal to the metal and grow in Christ, grow in our convictions. and grow our church for the sake of the Kingdom. Who is ready?