It is the time of year when people make New Year’s resolutions. Most of them concern ways to make next year better. Some resolve that this is the year to mend broken relationships. That they will forgive past hurts, or reach out to someone they used to be close to. How great would it be if the New Year could start with every bad decision of your past forgotten? No wondering if someone was holding a grudge. No stress over whether or not you could be forgiven. Not even a worry about whether old hurts would still be remembered.

Or how about the resolution to pay off your Christmas shopping in a timely manner? Or pay off last Christmas. Or save more this year. What if all of your old debts were just gone? Cancelled. Paid off by someone else.

Maybe you have made so many unfulfilled resolutions over the years that it really does not seem to matter anymore. What is the point if life is just going to be the same as it has always been? You feel worthless, useless, and without any value to anyone. The one resolution you wish you could fulfill would be to have value and purpose.

This year can be the best year of your life. Jesus offers the one real chance to start over, to be forgiven, and to find purpose.

If you worry about not having a relationship with God, know that God still loves you. He sent his son Jesus to earth to make a way for us to come back to Him. If you have been afraid the bad choices you have made can never be forgiven, there is good news. Jesus died for your sins so you could have a new life. God will never again hold those sins against you. Jesus was raised from the dead so you too could be raised with him. God values you that much. He has a purpose for you here and now. He invites you into a relationship with Him and then empowers you to follow his son in doing Kingdom work.

Jesus can make this the best New Year ever!
New life, relationship with God, forgiveness, purpose. That would be the best New Year ever.

Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org. Or visit our website at www.hopeforlife.org.