If I could suggest, instead of becoming the brunt of that tired joke about broken New Year’s resolutions, why not skip that in favor of a new awareness, a new or broader awareness of the immensity of our agency in Jesus? Our agency is described saying: ‘I have the ability to influence this situation.’ Or ‘I can speak helpfully to that situation.’ Or simply, ‘I can make a difference here.’ It’s easy enough to fall prey to a rehearsal of all we can’t do. Think Moses’ repeated excuses when God called him to rescue the children of Israel from Pharaoh and Egypt. A few minutes’ thinking about what God has commissioned us to do will help to further open our eyes to our agency.
We have been given eternal life, but some teachings imply that’s what we have only after we die. But we already have eternal life, right here in the now and the not yet! Jesus talked about its abundance. What abundance? He talked about its peace. Peace when? He talked about its ambassadorship. What ambassadorship? He talked about loving our enemies, being the light of the world, living generously, praying without ceasing, being peacemakers, obeying those in elected authority, loving our spouses and children, living with intentional righteousness, and on and on.
Every aspect of our eternal life takes us way past our human limits. The apostle Paul repeatedly talks about our ‘in Jesus’ life. He discovered, as will we, the impossibility of living eternal life within the constraints of our mortal bodies. Grace, mercy, forgiveness, in huge doses are greatly needed for this task. And grace, mercy, and forgiveness are in stock in huge doses! The Holy Spirit, too, is needed as a live-in source of godliness. Here again, the good news is that the Holy Spirit is our live-in source of godliness! Wisdom and discernment are vital. Tada! The Holy Spirit loves to joyfully provide all the wisdom and discernment required. And you know what? There are no elite believers, no Grade ‘A,’ Grade ‘B,’ or Grade ‘F’ believers. Only God’s fully beloved children!
To successfully expand awareness of our agency, we must give up all hope of ever having a better past. That’s the bottom line. That’s the key. We find Jesus waiting for us there. Happy resolution-free, agency-fueled, New Year, y’all! PD
