“What Kind of People Ought YOU to Be?”
2 Peter 3:11

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Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas
The Circumcision of Our Lord – New Year’s Day—January 1, 2016

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The text for our New Year’s meditation is a question St. Peter poses in today’s Epistle Reading.  As he considers the end of the world and the beginning of a new heaven and a new earth, St. Peter asks: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God.” 

This morning, as we consider the end of 2015 and beginning of a new year, we also ask, “In 2016, what kind of people ought YOU to be?”

First, you ought to be a REPENTANT people.  As St. Peter says, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  And as Jeremiah says, “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”  In 2016 what kind of people ought YOU to be?  A repentant people.

You ought to be also a BELIEVING people.  Jesus says, “The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross, suffering and dying for you, as payment for your sins.  He is your Savior; on his account, your heavenly Father forgives you all your sins.  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”  In 2016 what kind of people ought YOU to be?  A repentant people, and a believing people.

You ought to be also a TRUSTING people.  As Moses tells Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Or as the old adage says, “I know not what the future holds but I know who holds the future.”  As we begin the new year, commit your way to the Lord, as the psalmist says, “My times are in your hands.”  Commit your way to the Lord and trust in his goodness and his guidance of your life, as St. Paul says in Romans, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”  In 2016 what kind of people ought YOU to be?  A repentant people, a believing people, and a trusting people.

You ought to be also a PRAYERFUL people.  “Oh, what peace we often forfeit; Oh, what needless pain we bear; All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”  If you have but one resolution to make for 2016, make it daily prayer for all 365 days of the year.  As St. Paul says in Philippians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

In 2016 what kind of people ought YOU to be?  A repentant people, a believing people, a trusting people, and a prayerful people.

You ought to be also a WORSHIPPING people.  As Psalm 100 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him and bless his name.”  Let the Lord’s day find you here in the Lord’s house, rendering unto him your prayers, praise and thanksgiving.  Receiving from the Lord strength for daily living through his Word and Sacraments.  As the book of Hebrews says, “Let us not give up meeting together.”  In 2016 what kind of people ought YOU to be?  A repentant people, a believing people, a trusting people, a prayerful people, and a worshipping people.

You ought to be also a LOVING people.  As St. John writes in his First Epistle, “He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”  Feel love in your heart and show love in your actions.  As Jesus says at the Last Supper, “Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  In 2016 what kind of people ought YOU to be?  A repentant people, a believing people, a trusting people, a prayerful people, a worshipping people, and a loving people.

You ought to be also a SERVING people.  “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.”  Begin this new year by placing all that you are and have at the feet of your Savior.  Serve Christ and his Church with your time, your talents and abilities, and your financial contributions.  As St. Paul says in 2nd Corinthians, “He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him, who died for them and rose again.”  In 2016 what kind of people ought YOU to be?  A repentant people, a believing people, a trusting people, a prayerful people, a worshipping people, a loving people, and a serving people.

You ought to be also a HOLY people.  As St. Peter says in our text, “What kind of people ought you to be?  You ought to live holy and godly lives.”  And as St. Paul says in Ephesians, “So I tell you this and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the heathen do.” 

Every day, in every way, you are being a witness for Christ.  Whether you realize it or not, you being a witness for Christ—either a good witness or a bad witness.  Either a good witness with your holy and upright life, or a bad witness with your hypocrisy and wickedness.  The old English preacher Richard Baxter put it this way: “He that means as he speaks will surely do as he speaks.”  If you really mean it when you say that you are a follower of Christ, then you will follow the way of Christ, living a holy and godly life.  In 2016 what kind of people ought YOU to be? 

A REPENTANT people: “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  

A BELIEVING people: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”

A TRUSTING people: “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

A PRAYERFUL people: “Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

A WORSHIPPING people: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.”

A LOVING people: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

A SERVING people: “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.”

And a HOLY people: “You ought to live holy and godly lives.”

That’s what kind of people you ought to be—in 2016 and throughout your life.