a new year... a new spiritual discipline...

The pastor challenged us this morning...
this first day of the year in worship...
to begin a new discipline...
to draw closer to God...

Already... before the pastor challenged...
God had called me... to something new...
(maybe not new to you... but new to me...)
a spiritual discipline inspired by a chosen devotional for the year...

A Charles Spurgeon devotional... an updated edition...
Look Unto Me... The Devotions of Charles Spurgeon...

Early this morning... in the original preface... I read...

If you do not have time to read both the morning devotional and at least one chapter of Scripture, I earnestly entreat you to dispense with this book, for I would be greatly grieved to know that anyone read the Word of God less on my account.

---Charles Spurgeon, December 1865

As I read the words... at least one chapter of Scripture...
the thought came to mind...
This year... read through the gospels... a chapter a day...

My new spiritual discipline... to draw closer to Him...
will take me through Matthew... Mark... Luke... John...
four times this year... if I keep the pace of one chapter a day...
(yes... I did the math...)

An idea I've thought of before... but never committed to...
never felt called to... till now...

The gospels tell Jesus's story...
at least the part He lived on earth...
as God-man... as Word made flesh... as Lamb of God...
the place where we live now...
facing the same temptations...
the same challenges He did...

The author of Hebrews tells us to consider Him...
so we do not lose heart...

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself,

so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 12:3 ESV

So this year... I will spend more time...
considering Him who endured...
and looking to Him... who perfects our faith...

...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy

that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,

and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

Ask Him what He wants you to do this year...

to draw closer to Him... to look to Him...

and see Him better...

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth;

for I am God, and there is none else.

Isaiah 45:22 KJV