2013

I know, I know! I’m a day late and a dollar short! No really, I am a dollar short!

I have been thinking about this new year: 2013. The number itself is kinda catchy: 2-0-1-3, or twenty-thirteen, or 13, or 1-3. The sound of it brightens my day. It is isn’t because I will turn another year older in October. It really isn’t because I pastor a great Church. It really isn’t because of anything in-particular. It’s because it is another year to serve the Lord Jesus Christ!

After reading so many different blogs and the Twitter feed, I discovered that so many people have set their goals for 2013. They have planned their lives out over the next year and they are already hard at work so when their goals list is through they can say, “Wow! Look what I’ve done! See what I’ve accomplished!” I shall never forget being a part of Zig Ziglar’s Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church of Dallas and he would say, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!” Oh, how everyone would write down words like this and would really try to live by this rule. Then someone from Amway came along and wanted me to be a part of the direct line. Every tape that I heard had sayings like Zig’s. They’re not bad sayings, but how true are they?

Not too long ago I had the opportunity to speak to the President of a large financial institution and told him that I have planned this year to preach the Word of God to the best of my ability. I want to tell as many people as I possibly can that Jesus Christ saves people from their sin. My goal is simply to improve my walk with the Lord Jesus so one day I can hear the words, “Well-done, thy good and faithful servant.” I have not set goals per se. I don’t plan to win so many people to the Lord every year. I wait on Him and just try to remain obedient to tell people the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As I plant or as I water I know that God is the One who gives the increase. See how Paul the apostle said it:

So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:7, NASB)

Let me put it simply: My goals in life are 1) To win people to Jesus Christ by telling them the Gospel and exalting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; 2) To help people to think about the things of God by preaching and teaching His Word; and, 3) To help people to laugh now and then. These three goals have been my goals since I was 15-years-old. Nothing more and nothing less. Again, as I plant or as I water I know that God is the One who gives the increase. I am merely a servant of His doing that which I ought to be doing (cf. Luke 17:10). So I live for today simply seeking His righteousness and His kingdom and I am leaving tomorrow to the Lord (cf. Matthew 6:33-34). I would encourage you to do the same.

Happy New Year!