To ensure a happy and healthy year, I have recently made a couple of New Year’s resolutions. As many of us understand, our happiness is naturally linked to our health. However, let me clarify that I don’t suggest health challenges cannot bring us joy in our faith journey. As children of God, we are called to “rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Our spirits and minds can remain content in Christ, regardless of our physical condition. Having said that, I emphasize the importance of maintaining physical health through proper exercise, nutritious food, adequate sleep, and more.

Since reaching the age of fifty-six a couple of months ago, I have noticed several changes in my fitness. Due to prolonged hours in front of the computer daily, I have observed a decline in muscle tone in my arms and shoulders and an accumulation of fat around my belly. About a year ago, I made a determined plan to strengthen my upper body. Recently, I acquired some used home gym equipment and have been consistently working out to build muscle in my arms, shoulders, and overall upper body. Alongside this, I cherish regular walks with my wife. Moving forward, I aim to continually enhance my physical fitness through daily workouts.

Like many of you, I also prioritize nurturing a healthy mind and spirit to cultivate a healthy body. In my view, the triad of body, mind, and spirit is closely interconnected, paving the way for a happy and healthy life. To practice this philosophy daily, I have chosen to commend myself more frequently, regardless of whether I achieve significant milestones or smaller victories. From God’s perspective, we are all precious irrespective of our accomplishments, educational backgrounds, possessions, fame, or strength.

While I sometimes grapple with thoughts of needing to do more to feel loved or valued, I have recently experienced a renewed understanding of God’s boundless love for me. I am reminded of His affirmation for each of His creations: “It is very good!” (Genesis 1:31). This year, during my moments of devotion, I aim to embrace self-compassion. I want to sit in the Lord’s presence, see myself through His compassionate eyes, and recall His words at my baptism, echoing His proclamation over Jesus: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

Beyond my physical and spiritual desires, I want to sharpen my mind through various activities: memorizing Bible verses, engaging in puzzles, and challenging myself to learn something new. I acknowledge that my journey toward these goals will have its ups and downs. There will be times when I feel I have advanced three steps toward my objectives and other times when I feel I have taken two steps back. Yet, I accept this reality as part of my path and remain committed to pursuing the dreams and visions God has placed in my heart.

Regardless of the challenges that may arise, I am firmly committed to cultivating happiness and wellness – physically, mentally, and spiritually- in this promising new year, seeking God’s guidance every step of the way.

In today’s primary text, Philippians chapter 1, verses 1 through 6, the Apostle Paul offers words of encouragement regarding the resolutions we might consider as we continue our journey of faith. To provide context for this epistle, around 51 A.D., during his mission trip, the Apostle Paul founded the Philippians Church. At the beginning of his letter, Paul introduces himself and Timothy, his fellow worker, as servants of Christ. He greets the Philippi congregation along with the overseers and deacons. His attitude toward his partners underscores that Paul values lay leaders in the church as essential team members in spreading the Good News. This is why Paul prays for them with joy, acknowledging their partnership from the first day until now. Furthermore, Paul appreciates each one of them, recognizing their love for the Lord and the church, and their dedicated work alongside him for the advancement of God’s Kingdom since the inception of the Philippi church.

Paul’s gratitude to God also rooted in his faith in the Lord. Paul writes, “He [God] who began a good work in you [the Philippians] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Paul trusts in God, who initiates beautiful works within each of the Philippians and promises to bring these endeavors to fruition on their behalf. This morning, I invite us all to reflect on God’s faithfulness and to apply this understanding to our own faith journey.

First of all, like Paul, we must recognize that it is God who has started good works within each of us and will bring them to completion for all of us. Once again, I want to echo the Apostle Paul’s words, “He [God] who began a good work in you…” What does this phrase, “a good work,” mean for us as His followers? In the Epistle of Ephesians, Paul describes this relationship between faith and work. He emphasizes that individuals are saved through faith, not by their own efforts, but as a gift from God. Paul states, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). When Paul addresses this theme in another letter to his friend Titus, he provides further clarification. Upon receiving salvation through faith and becoming new creations in God, we are called to “say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions” (Titus 2:12). Instead, we are to “live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for our blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13). Paul further explains to Titus the significance of Christ’s sacrifice, affirming that Jesus Christ “gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14).

Please bear with me for a moment as I share a summarized description of God’s salvation. Salvation unfolds in three distinct stages: justification, sanctification, and glorification. Initially, when we repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus, we are immediately made righteous before God. Through faith in the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, we are cleansed of our sins and justified by his grace. I firmly believe that justification marks God’s first transformative work within us.

Having received God’s righteousness, we are then called to progress to the next phase of salvation, known as sanctification. This process entails becoming more like Jesus Christ. As His followers, we are continually challenged to ponder: “What would Jesus do in my current situation?” This question echoes the Apostle Paul’s encouragement in the following chapter of Philippians, “…My dear friends, as you have always obeyed… continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13).

It is crucial to acknowledge that we cannot earn our salvation, no matter how hard we work for God, since none of us can fully keep all His laws, and our hearts are inherently deceitful. It is also critical to remember that our faith in the Lord and obedience to His Word are closed tied. Just as we seek to please those who love, if we love the Lord, we should be eager to align our actions with His desires and reject unrighteousness. Through this alignment, we strive to reflect the image of God more fully by imitating Jesus Christ.

Pursuing good works may initially involve visions and dreams God has placed in our hearts. I am convinced that our gracious Lord has given each of us these godly wishes, desiring us to fulfill them for His glory, utilizing the talents He has bestowed upon us.

Before we proceed further, I have questions for us: “How do we feel about the visions God has granted us?” “To what extent have we pursued them in the past year?” Some of us may find joy in the outcomes, excited about realizing our God-given dreams while others might feel discouraged, sensing that there is still a long journey ahead. As we reflect on our past experiences with God, we may ponder how best to run our race in the coming year to honor Him. Amidst these reflections, it is vital to remember that God is the originator of the magnificent visions and dreams He has entrusted to us, regardless of any uncertainties we may face.

Now, let us move on to the second point of our message. God is the One who knows everything about us and oversees the entire process from the start to the conclusion of our spiritual race. The Lord, our Christ, is referred to as “the Alpha and the Omega”, indicating that He is both the beginning and the end of every aspect of our lives. In the Gospel of John, when the Apostle describes Christ, he writes, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him, nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-3). Based on this gospel, Jesus is the Alpha – the Creator God who initiated all of His divine projects.

In the concluding chapter of Revelation, John also depicts Christ as the Omega, symbolizing the end. When Jesus returns to the earth, He will perfectly fulfill all His divine plans and establish His eternal kingdom for those who have placed their faith in God. John understands that the final stage of salvation, termed glorification, will be accomplished when Jesus, Immanuel, returns as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

I believe that over the past year, each of us – whether present in this sanctuary or joining us via Zoom – has endeavored to make improvements. These efforts may relate to our health, finances, family dynamics, or emotional and spiritual well-being. At times, we have sought a clearer understanding of our current circumstances. When face with uncertainty, we often consider one of two responses. The first is to give up on our endeavors, especially when progress seems minimal. The second option is to worry about potential scenarios that may never materialize. Since Jesus oversees every aspect of our lives, from the beginning to end, we must rely on Him completely and seek His ongoing guidance. This realization leads us to our third point.

Furthermore, we need to remember that God not only the One who initiates something beautiful within each of us but also the One who brings to completion the God-given visions and dreams He has placed in our hearts. Let us once again listen to the words of the Apostle Paul this morning: “He [God] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Did we catch the significance of the phrase “He will”? It highlights God’s unwavering commitment to fulfilling His good works in us.

The Lord our god possesses a broader perspective. He sees what we cannot see. While we may only understand fragments of our journey, God comprehends the entirety of our path. As I have shared before, we can liken our life to a long, straight line marked from one to a hundred. Between these numbers, unexpected curves may appear. Reflect on the spaces between specific periods of each number, especially when considering the line’s highs and losws, as well as the duration of time between the numbers.

I believe that many of us struggle to discern how to handle challenging situations, even as we place our trust in God. At times, we may feel uncertain about navigating these challenges, feeling as if we are driving through an endless, dark tunnel. This feeling arises because, while on this journey, we perceive only a small portion and cannot discern the full extent of the curve. As humans, our perspective has its limits. However, the Lord our God comprehends the entirety of our path, from the first step to the hundredth, representing our journey from birth to our eternal life with Him.

When we describe God, we often use majestic terms like omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. Yet, we must humbly acknowledge our limited understanding of the Creator’s true nature. Friends, are we discouraged with our spiritual progress? Let us rejoice, for the Lord promises to bring to completion the good work He has initiated in each of us! Jesus not only accomplishes His mission on our behalf but also exemplifies supreme faithfulness from the beginning to the end of the divine race He has been called to run (Hebrews 12:2). Throughout His earthly journey, Jesus remained steadfastly focused on God the Father, who initiated the magnificent work of salvation and will bring it to glorious fulfillment. From the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30), signifying the completion of God’s redemptive plan. The same Savior who initiates the transformative processes of justification, sanctification, and glorification within us will bring these divine works to completion upon His glorious return.

To conclude this message, I would like to reflect on a question Jesus posed in our gospel reading for today. When Jesus saw a man lying by the pool, who had been sick for thirty-eight years, He asked him, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5: 6). Typically, when people become ill, they earnestly seek recovery and explore remedies. So, why did Jesus ask such an obvious question to this man? While it is evident the man would desire healing, his prolonged condition might have diminished his hope for a cure. He had been in that same condition for 38 years. Think about the profound changes the world has witnessed over these decades; however, the man’s situation remained unchanged. If Jesus were to pose the same question to us this morning, how would we respond?

While many of us might appear healthy on the outside, each of us may face our own challenges inwardly, akin to this man’s seemingly hopeless condition. Perhaps some of us have struggled with persistent health issues. Over time, we might become so discouraged and accustomed to our unchanging and concerning circumstances that we even lose the desire to be healed. One of the most deceptive lies Satan tells us is that a pessimistic environment will never change. He bombards us with discouraging messages, one after another. If we continually focus on the negatives, we can lose our drive to pursue health and happiness.

Regardless of our circumstances, Jesus poses a profound question to us: “Do you want to get well?” We need to shift our focus from discussing the problems to exploring the possibilities. The Bible teaches us, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” We should tune our ears to God’s promises and boldly proclaim, “My help comes from the Lord who is the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1). Let us remind ourselves, “I can do everything through Him, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). As we pray for ourselves and our loved ones, may God’s guidance lead us to improved health and happiness in the coming year.

Jesus’ question this morning is direct yet profound: “Do you want to get healthy and happy?” It is a crucial question that demands our response. Our Lord Jesus is the ultimate Physician and Healer. “Do you truly desire to be made well?” If we were to assess the state of our lives and conclude that this marks the end of our journey, we might grow weary and lose heart. However, our story is far from its conclusion. As we step into 2024, it is essential for us, as followers of Christ, to understand that the Lord continues His work in our lives. His ongoing presence and involvement are both encouraging and uplifting.

Nothing is too difficult, too large, or impossible for our Mighty and Merciful God. He is “the Way Maker, the Miracle Worker, the Promise Keeper, and the Light in the darkness.” Friends, let us wholeheartedly place our trust in God, who has planted dreams and visions within each of us. He is faithful and will fulfill them in His perfect timing. As we entrust ourselves to God, Christ, our Lord, encourages us to continually challenge ourselves – “attempting great things for Him and expecting great things from Him.” When we persevere in faith and run our God-given race patiently, we can experience the power of our Mighty and Merciful God and witness the fulfillment of His promises. We will partake in His eternal victory in Heaven once we are called to be with Him one day. Moreover, in our present lives, we can enjoy His divine joy and presence, particularly within our daily endeavors. Amen!

* In my research for this sermon, I used some thoughts from the various sermons based on John 5:1-9 and Philippians 1:1-6.