New Year, Same God

The Epistle to the Romans
Written By Pastor Joseph Khabbaz

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

Life moves in the direction of our deepest attention. When a popular phone app decided to analyze user behavior right after New Year’s celebrations, they sought to answer the question, how long does it take for the average person to break their New Year’s resolution? Answer, February 4th (at least that is the date they came up with). The app designers reported that user visits to fast-food joints increased while trips to the gym experienced a downturn. Shoppers also bought 15 percent more ice cream and desserts, and 35 percent more pizza, in early February than during the first two weeks of January. 

We live in a culture that aims for 30 days of fame rather than 60 years of faithfulness. The quick fix promises us that we can get rich quick, lose weight quick, get to know someone quick, no wonder people quit so quickly. 

There is an excitement of the new year, but newness can easily wear off. What if instead of focusing on outward goals, we focused on changing the way we think? In Romans 8:6, Paul inspires us be spiritually minded by allowing God to guide our thoughts, purposes, and intentions. Put simply, being spiritually minded is loving the things that God loves. In so doing, God promises that we will experience true life and peace through reconciliation with Him.

The years will change but we can live in faith knowing that God’s love towards us never changes, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. For the moments we battle to stay spiritually minded, “The Holy Spirit is making intercession for every sincere wrestler, and Christ will make His words to be spirit and life, the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” When God has our attention, our lives will move in the right direction.

Reflect

  • What hopes do you have for this new year? For yourself? For your family? For your friends? For your studies? For your relationships? For your church?

  • What areas of your life would you like God to transform your mind in 2022? Where do you need to be made new so that you can experience life and peace?

 Ellen Gould White, Our High Calling (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1961), 101.

Pastor Joseph Khabbaz

Joseph currently serves as the VP for Spiritual Life and Chaplain at Southern Adventist University. Prior to moving to Southern, he served as Youth and Young Adult Pastor at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Takoma Park, MD. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Joseph was the Director of Tertiary and Young Adult Ministries for the South Queensland Conference. He also worked as a Chartered Accountant (CPA’s equivalent) before leaving the corporate world to study for his MDiv at the Andrews Theological Seminary. His passion is to ignite missional leaders and prepare young adults in the advancing of God’s Kingdom. He and his wife Christina met on the campus of Southern and enjoy international missions, playing basketball and spending quality time with family and friends.

https://josephkhabbaz.com
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