From the Churches January 2024

Reflecting the new partnership between Churches in Gorleston, this column will now feature leaders
from different churches in our town

TThis month we hear from the Rev Karl Ross, Assistant Curate at
St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston

 
January tends to be the month of resolutions that are given up at the first challenge, and starts that fall at the first hurdle. It may well seem to be a month of disappointment. I know for me, I’ve gotten in to the second week of January for a number of years now kicking myself because I’ve not had the will power and self-control needed to keep my New Year’s Resolutions
 
It often seems that the more we try to change and do things differently the more frustrated we get with ourselves because we just can’t seem to change. Our inability to change is twofold
 
The first reason we can’t seem to change is because we set goals that are way out of reach for us to get to. For example, I know because of my poor ability to swim I would not be able to take up sea swimming. However, if I set my goal to learn how to swim, I might stand a chance of getting that sea swimming goal in the future
 
The second and perhaps more significant reason we can’t seem to change is because we try to do it all within our own power. We believe that if we just pull up our boot straps and try a little harder we’ll be able to make the change we want to see. Whenever we try to change in our own power, we’re never going to be left satisfied. So whose power should we use to try and change if our own doesn’t work? We are changed by God through faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit
 
Through faith and discipleship we are being made more and more into the image of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit. I’d love to think that I would be able to do this on my own. For years I’ve tried to change in my own power and in my own way, and I’ve not got anywhere. My own efforts to change didn’t make any difference. Those New Year’s Resolutions and even the “I’ll sort it on Monday” resolutions, didn’t make a difference. But Jesus did, in his life, death, resurrection, and glorious ascension. He made a way for us to change into the person who He wants us to be, holy and righteous, just like him
 
When I’ve yet again tried to change in my own effort and power, I’m often encouraged by Peter in the Bible. Jesus is constantly telling off because he puts his foot in it. He is the one who in one breath was the first to call Jesus the Messiah and then in the next telling him not to do the Father’s will. Yet Jesus forgives and still uses him in incredible ways!
 

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ‘May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who called you is faithful, and he will do it’

courtesy of the Gorleston Community Magazine

The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Yarmouth, and are intended to stimulate constructive and good-natured debate between website users

We welcome your thoughts and comments, posted below, upon the ideas expressed here

Click here to read our forum and comment posting guidelines