BETTER THAN I DESERVE

        What do you say when someone meets you and asks, “How are you doing today?” or “How’s it going?” or some other variation. How do you respond? Our standard come-back is probably “Doing fine,” or “Just great,” or if we’re caught off guard, we may answer, “Not bad” or even a bland, “Okay.” But what do we mean by our answer?
         Probably it means we haven’t given it much thought. Unless we’re in the midst of a life crisis, we probably are just giving a thoughtless response to what we think is a thoughtless question.
         How about responding with something more positive and truthful? “Wonderful - thank you!” or, “More good than bad!” Maybe you can make a belated New Year’s resolution to give people a more meaningful response, like “Better than I deserve!”
         I’ve been thinking lately about Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  That certainly describes the New Year God has given us. The oldness of 2015 has passed away and we can do nothing about it.  The future is not yet here, so we don’t know what it will have for us. All we have is now, a new 2016, and Paul reminds us, “Behold, the new has come.”
        Can we be a new creation in 2016? I recently saw evidence that a small snake had shed its skin. God makes that creature with the ability to get rid of a damaged and worn outer cover so it can look and feel better with a new one.
         God scales gives us something similar. It comes when, “The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Can we shed our old skin of worry or resentment, of fearfulness or regret, of weariness or apathy? Can we accept God’s gift of forgiveness in Jesus and know what means to become new again, at least for awhile? In Jesus Christ, all are made new. We just accept His gift of newness every day.
          I’ve decided my New Year’s resolution will be to give people a more cheerful and hopeful response when they ask how I’m doing. Maybe their question isn’t meant to be answered honestly, but why not give them something new? After all, when we trust Him, we are “In Christ” and that means we’re “a new creation.”

In 2016, I plan to respond, “Better than I deserve!” That ought to make them think!

Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com