Count on Me

Things are so much easier when we have encouragement, right?

I’m not sure about you but I can talk myself out of something in a heartbeat. I can come up with a million reasons for my change in plans and justify my decision. Some of it has to do with my anxiety. Some of it I’m sure comes with a degree of laziness.

When I know someone is counting on me, it changes my entire perspective. Knowing someone is waiting on me makes a difference. I know that I am not in it alone. That there is someone who hopes I show up.

I had this conversation with a sweet friend recently. She was talking about our commitment to a weekly walking group. About the importance of friendship and holding each other accountable to show up and walk. It's so much easier together. Knowing you have someone waiting makes it easier not to back out.

My friend couldn’t be more right.

Heading into a new year, there is often much anticipation. There is excitement and eagerness as to what the days ahead may hold. Resolution talk fills our minds, our TV screens, and our social media feeds. We want to feel better, eat healthily, and be successful.

Has anyone managed to be successful in keeping or exceeding resolutions? If so, be sure to let me know. Sometimes adhering to our own goals is hard amidst all and everything else going on.

In thinking about a verse or section of verses to guide me into a new year, I landed in Colossians chapter three. Well, I don’t believe I landed there by my own doings, but rather by God directing me there. I know it's a lot of verses, but I want us to read them all.

Colossians 3 - MSG

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn’t long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.

Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don’t take advantage of them.

Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end.

Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits.

Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.

There’s a lot mentioned in this passage. I can’t help but be drawn to the middle verses. The image of dressing in love. Our world needs love. Our communities need love. Our schools need love. Our homes need love.

I’m thankful this new season for faithful friends whom I see as family. For they have both shown love to me and also taught me how to love better. I’m thankful for the compassion that is shared and the fun we have together. That doing something as simple as walking together is easier because we do it together.

I don’t know what God has in store for me this year. I’m hopeful I can live with love, humility, compassion, and quiet strength. I want others to count on me just like I count on the precious friends in my life. This life is far too short to try to make it by on our own.

Do yourself a favor this year. Find a few people who will come alongside of you and cheer you on in this life. From tasks like walking to major life decisions, don’t choose to do it all by yourself.