New Year's Resolutions, Decisions and Jesus

A New Year’s Letter to Myself: Resolutions, Decisions and Jesus

Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014

By Bret Pippen

In preparing for my talk today, I decided to take another look at a series of admonitions and commands issued by Jesus. We have seen these during our discussions over the past few weeks. I was inspired by Jesus’ startling declaration in Luke 12 when He said: “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! Do you think I came to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.”

This is not some kind-hearted gentle young teacher come to make everything okay. He’s come to shake things up – to demand that things be better than they are and than they ever could be.

As I was writing down the various commands Christ makes and then adding my own commentary, it occurred to me that I was writing a letter to myself. As is the case with many of us, I am particularly adept at giving advice but not so adept at following it. So it seemed to me that a good place to start in 2014 would be with a letter to myself.

Now. . .if you hear some advice in this letter that strikes you as specific to your situation or that you feel is appropriate for you, please feel free to plagiarize. The source material is scripture and, let’s face it, is some good stuff to work with and copy.

Dear Bret,

You are here for a reason. You are not an accident. You are God’s child. Remember that time in Genesis Class when everyone was asked: “Who are you?” We all answered with labels applied to us by this world – father, mother, worker. The reality is we are God’s. The question is not “Who are you?” but “Whose are you?” If your study of scripture has taught you anything at all, Bret, if it has made anything completely clear, then it should be that you are created by God in the image of God for God from God for the love of God. And this is important to remember because, as you know, the darkness can be overwhelming. And it’s in those dark moments that you begin to question whose you are. You begin to believe the world: That your value is based on things outside of God’s love. You begin to focus on the wrong ideas. You are led astray by your own doubts. Your own self-centeredness. And, before you know it, you are surrounded by this darkness. Telling you that you are not worth it. Telling you don’t belong here. Telling you are useless. You can feel your joy fading, being taken away. You can feel the light grow dim.

You’ve been in these moments. You can physically feel the despair. The hopelessness. You have felt it and understood it. What it means to be completely alone in a crowded room. What it means to be sitting in the midst of friends and family and to feel completely alone. Cut off from life-giving warmth and love.

The voices whisper, yell. You are worthless. You are useless. They question your existence. Maybe you are just a random occurrence. What other reason could there be for you being here? No one wants you. No one loves you. No one likes you. Seriously, why don’t you just do us all a favor and quit wasting valuable space on this planet?

But here’s what I want you to do, Bret, at these moments – I want you to remember whose you are. Because no matter how dark it may get. No matter how alone you may feel. He is always there. Jesus is always right there. And He’s telling you: “Get up! Grab your mat and walk!”

Jesus is there to grab you by the lapels and shake you awake. To tell you what an idiot you’re being. He reminds you of what one of your favorite authors, Henri Nouwen, had to say, an author who struggled with his own darkness. . . “Christians don’t deny the darkness. We just decide not to live in it.” And who provides that light? The light for us to live in? The light that we are drawn to? The light that gives life?

Jesus. God.

And Jesus and God work through your friends and family. Don’t dismiss them. They are here on this planet doing God’s work. As it says in scripture, we are all connected through Christ. We are all parts of the same body. None more important than the other.

Jesus is not some random motivational speaker with abstract thoughts and ideas. This is Jesus. Son of God. Son of Man. He is speaking to you. Directly to you. Encouraging you. Challenging you. Convicting you. Comforting you.

You can say many things about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but one thing you cannot accuse Him of is leaving you alone. Once He has you. Once you are His. Once you recognize all this. He refuses to leave you alone. As Anne Lamott has said Jesus accepts you as your are and loves you too much to leave you that way.

Jesus is the ultimate friend. You talk about friends whom you love and whom you want to tell you the truth no matter what. Bull. You tell yourself that because you believe that is what you should say. The reality is, you really like those friends who tell you what you want to hear. The ones who pat you on the back and tell you that you look great. You are the emperor parading around naked.

Jesus is not that kind of friend. Jesus gets in your grill and tells you what you don’t want to hear. This is the discomfort you’re feeling. This is Jesus telling you to be better than you are. This is Jesus telling you that is He with you to the ends of the earth and beyond. This is Jesus telling you that it’s not going to be easy.

Bret, Jesus expects you to take your role as God’s child seriously. Not lightly. Not dismissively. Who are you to decide that you are no longer needed? God has work for you to do. Jesus wants you to do His work on this planet. To provide a light in the darkness of others. He wants you to reach beyond the darkness. To be born again. And again. And again. And again. To remember who you are. Whose you are.

Be better than you are. Work toward that idea of perfection. Be perfect as your Father is perfect. Yes, you’re going to need help. And Jesus is there. Be willing to accept help from Jesus and, remember, this help sometimes comes in the form of other broken people. Stop being so dang snobby. Jesus – God – works in mysterious ways. Be aware enough to recognize those opportunities to see God where many do not.

Bring light to your areas of darkness. To those area of darkness around you. Be influential where you can be influential. Stop missing the trees for the forest. Don’t dismiss what’s right in front of you. God has put you where He needs you. Now, do something with the opportunity.

Remember these things that Jesus said:

Matthew 5:24-25 – Go and be reconciled with your brother. . .Settle matters quickly with your adversary. The anger you feel is only hurting you.

Matthew 5:37 – Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ Stop looking for loopholes. Let your word be your word.

Matthew 5:39-42 – If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and taken your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Matthew 5:44 – Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:48 – Be perfect.

Matthew 6:1 – Give to the needy.

Matthew 6:5 – Pray.

Matthew 6:14 -- Forgive the sins of others as your Father has forgiven you.

Matthew 6:20 – Store your treasures in heaven.

Matthew 6:25 – Stop worrying so much.

Matthew 7:1 – Don’t judge others.

Matthew 7:12 – Do unto others what you have them do unto you. Don’t be surprised that if you treat others like crap, you are treated like crap in return.

Matthew 7:14 – Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life. Remember: My way isn’t the easy way but it’s the right way. Sometimes doing the right thing will not be the easiest thing.

Matthew 7:15 – Watch out for false prophets. If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. If they claim to be speaking for Jesus but don’t act like Jesus then it probably isn’t from Jesus.

Matthew 7:24 – Build your house on solid rock. Build your life on the solid foundation that is Jesus Christ. Build up your faith. So that when storms do come, you are not so easily washed away.

And that’s that. Bret, be sure to check back with this letter at various points during the year. Think of it as a road map pointing you in the right direction.

Remember: God loves you too much to leave you alone and to leave you as you are.

grace and peace,

Bret Pippen