January 2023

Dear Friends of First,

January is a first month of a new year—a time we think of fresh starts, new beginnings and resolutions that will make this year different than the last. While the world around us is constantly changing, we are always changing, growing, and learning too. But we often find that the parts of our lives we most want to change are the most difficult for us to alter. There are bad habits and destructive patterns that we can fall into so easily, and once we’ve begun such behavior, it can be extremely difficult to stop. Sin is like an addiction: it might seem as if just a little bit won’t hurt anything, but soon “just a little bit” leads to “just a little more/longer/further.”

That is why the Christian life is one of constant renewal. Martin Luther writes in the Small Catechism, “the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and...a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” Every day we face temptation, and every day our sinful nature threatens to lead us astray. So, Luther reminds us, we must every day be reminded of our baptism—in which God has cleansed us, forgiven us, and claimed us as members of the Lord’s family. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 6:4, “We were therefore buried with “Christ” through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” In baptism, our sinful self-dies with Jesus, and we are raised new, just as Christ was raised again to new life. Daily we confess our sins; daily we receive God’s grace and forgiveness. In Christ we are new creations!

Of course, living on this side of eternity, we still struggle to live as God’s people, follow God’s commands, and love one another the way that God has loved us. We falter and fall time and time again. But God grants us forgiveness each and every day. As the book of Lamentations puts it, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning”. Each day is a fresh start, a new beginning. We are made new through the mercy and grace of our God. That’s what God does –takes what is broken, flawed, or ruined and makes it new (see Revelation 21:1-5)

So go ahead and make resolutions for the new year, plan to improve or grow, and change areas of your life that need changing. And most of all, remember that you are a baptized child of God, forgiven and washed clean, made new every day through the love of a gracious God who never gives up on you. 

Happy New Year!

Pastor Jim