Pastor John Granchie.

Editor’s note: Due to space constraints, Pastor Granchie’s column will publish in the Friday, Jan. 24 print edition of the Sun Courier.

For so many people a New Year signals a New Beginning, a time to start fresh with a clean slate. We often start by making resolutions of losing weight, saving more money, and filling up our bucket lists with long awaited things we can now do. For those of us who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior it’s a great time to reflect on the words found in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” The word “therefore” refers us back to verses 14-16 where Paul tells us that all believers have died with Christ and no longer live for themselves. Our lives are no longer worldly; they are now spiritual; we belong to Christ. 

We no longer have to live the way we did before we came to Christ. We are free from the excuses that hold us back and keep us living in our past sinful lifestyles. Romans 6:11-12 puts it this way, “11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can achieve this as we follow Him.

As we move forward in 2025, we will no doubt fail in the many “RESOLUTIONS” that we try hard to keep. We most likely will find ourselves wondering what happened and why did life throw me so many curve balls throughout the year. The world can be difficult and sometimes we find ourselves in troubles and trials that seem impossible to overcome. In those moments we must cling to the words of our Lord Jesus found in John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Keep in mind amid the storms of life in a dark and fallen world, that inner peace is only possible through a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

I hope and pray this New Year brings you closer to Christ and you and your family experience His love deeply.