3 Ways to Make an Impact in 2021!
We made it. We’re at the beginning of a new calendar year.
Who would like to make an impact this year?
If you raised your hand, nodded, or simply thought “I would”, then I want to share with you three ways we can do that.
I am going to use the Bible as the source of our instruction. Specifically, I want us to look at 1 Corinthians 15:58. Paul is at the close of his letter to the believers in Corinth. He has been dealing with several issues and wraps up with the importance of Jesus’ resurrection. Here’s what he says.
“Therefore, my beloved brother and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)
He wants these new believers to have an impact on not only themselves, but the world. We can also be impactful by following his three commands.
- Be firm and immovable – The way we become firm is by knowing why we believe what we believe. I suggest spending time in the Word this year. Read. Study. Meditate. Allow God to fill you with all He has to say about who He is. The better you know God, the more resolute you will be in your beliefs.
- Always excel in the work of the Lord – The level of impact is determined by how we serve. The pastor over our church’s CARE Ministry (a ministry for those of our church in need) always reminds us to serve with excellence. Paul knows God has gifted believers to serve one another. Serving others is the Lord’s work. The second greatest commandment is to love others as you love yourself. Putting feet on that love is done by serving others.
- Know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord – Having faith in the power of the Lord strengthens our impact. We can love, serve, and work, but if we don’t do it unto the Lord, it’s like trying to drive a car under our power rather than the car’s. We have confidence when we serve in Jesus’ power. Keeping that in mind enhances our impact.
I want to add a bonus to these three ways to have an impact this year. You may have noticed verse 58 began with the word “therefore”. That means Paul is building on something he said earlier. He had just talked to his audience about the importance of Jesus’ resurrection. Our bonus is this.
- Jesus’ victory is our victory – We don’t have to rely on our human means to be firm, serve with excellence, or know our labor is not in vain. We have victory over this life and death because our Lord and Savior is victorious. Jesus’ resurrection, His victory over death, gives us victory. We have this. No matter how difficult our road, we do not fail. We are victorious through our Lord Jesus Christ! You can count on it.
I’d love to know if you intend to make an impact this year. Drop a comment and let us know your plans.
3 Ways to Make an Impact in 2021 #hope #joy #writingcommunity Share on XToday’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.
Hey Tim – great post and one that is especially appropriate for the beginning of a new year. It reminded me that how as an adult (don’t laugh, I do come across as one . . . every now and then, anyway . . . ) I’ve often reflected upon my youth and have exclaimed more than once – probably like most of us Baby Boomers – “I can’t believe I survived my childhood!” I don’t think I ever would have believed anyone had they ever told me that it was something I might whisper under my breath as an adult . . . 2020 was one crazy, unprecedented, and difficult year. So I really like your quartet of thoughts on making an impact in 2021.
Personally I am not, nor have I ever been, a “fan” of making New Year’s resolutions. It has always seemed to me that tying a “change” I need to make to an event – especially one that comes around every twelve months like clock-work – adds an all too easily accessible off-ramp to whatever roadmap for success I carefully lay out for the New Year, an off-ramp which virtually assures I’m going to take it at some point ~ i.e., when “life” in the New Year begins to happen and I suddenly find those unanticipated—or worse, unexpected—hurdles, roadblocks, and detours on the road I’m traveling to success, it’s exceedingly easy to take the every present—it almost seems to follow me, like eyes in a portrait—off-ramp, confident that I’ll do better when I make my next set of New Year’s resolutions. I’m sure that’s way about 80% of those making resolutions are over them by the end of the first 30 days and only 5% of people actually keep them through the year. My habit, therefore, has been that when I become aware of something that I need to change that I don’t put it on a shelf with the other changes I plan on turning into resolutions on the first of a New Year. Instead, I make a plan, get behind the wheel, strap-in, and follow the map.
I think another mistake many followers of Christ make is to get wrapped around the axle on rewards, so I especially appreciate the fourth point that you added: “Jesus’ victory is our victory.” Even Jesus cautioned His disciples that to be focused on who is greater in heaven is to miss the entire point of heaven, focusing the majority of His teaching about it on those who would become stumbling blocks (cf., Mt. 18). We even miss the point about Jesus’ parable of the Talents (Mt. 25:14-30): who has what number of Talents is NOT the point of the parable, but faithfulness! We can be certain of this because of the parables on either side (The Ten Virgins (25:1–13) and The Sheep and the Goats (25:31–46)) of Jesus’ teaching on this. I’m not arguing against rewards. I am, however, arguing that CHRIST—through Whom we have forgiveness of our sins and will have eternal life—IS THE ULTIMATE REWARD, so I truly appreciate you pointing that out.
Praying for you and Ms. Sarah – and all your family – all of God’s riches for the New Year.
Great comment Guy! I’m not much on resolutions either. I’m terrible at keeping them. It seems my life runs through so many season in a given year that the goals change constantly along with my ability to stick to them. However, I agree with you that we would all do well to focus on Jesus and if we are truly living for Him, the rest of our lives will align with that. Thank you for weighing in on this.