The coming of a new year is a common time for us to reflect upon our lives, taking stock of the previous year and planning for the year ahead. This usually takes the form of New Years resolutions. Maybe you’ve resolved to hit the gym everyday or eat a more healthy diet, which are likely both good things to do to steward your body well. Or, even better, you’ve resolved to spend more quality time with your family or to read your bible everyday. I would recommend doing both these things, in fact here’s an excellent 2024 bible reading plan that I would heartily recommend.
The Secret to Living the Christian Life
But what if the most important thing for you in 2024 wasn’t primarily something to do, it was something to remember? J.I. Packer in his seminole work, “Knowing God“, says that there is a secret to living the Christian life, and it is in remembering and rehearsing these 6 Biblical truths about our identity and destiny.
“Do I as a Christian understand myself? Do I know my own real identity? My own real destiny? I am a child of God, God is my Father; heaven is my home; every day is one day nearer. My Saviour is my brother; every Christian is my brother too.
– J.I. Packer
Say it over and over again to yourself first thing in the morning, last thing at night, as you wait for the bus, any time when your mind is free, and ask God that you may be enabled to live as one who knows it is all utterly and completely true. For this is the Christian’s secret of the Christian life, of a God-honouring life.”
Rehearse Your Identity and Destiny
We, as christians, are so easily distracted by the world and are quick to forget the reality of who we are in Christ, our mission as his ambassadors, and the glorious inheritance awaiting us in heaven. That’s why Packer tells us that we need to rehearse these biblical truths about ourselves every day. Because if we saturate ourselves in this reality, it will give us a new eternal perspective on how to live. When facing trials, we can remember that suffering will only last “a little while” (1 Peter 1:6), for every day is one day nearer to our eternal home where where pain and sadness will be no more. When parents or family fails us, we can remember that we have a perfectly faithful Heavenly Father and elder Brother who will never let us down. When our country seems to be falling apart around us, we can remember that we have a better country in heaven which is our true home.
So, in the coming year, when you’re waiting for the bus, when your mind is free, remember and rehearse these 6 biblical truths to yourself and let it reshape your perspective in 2024.
- I am a child of God.
- God is my Father.
- Heaven is my home.
- Every day is one day nearer.
- My Savior is my brother.
- Every Christian is my brother too.
