Rev. Dr. I. David Byrd. January, 2019
Each year brings about fresh new hopes and expectations. In the transition, we stop and take stock of our lives setting out to make the current year better than the last. We make physical, emotional, and intellectual resolutions as a method of restarting ourselves. Mr. Webster defines a resolution as,
“A firm decision to do or not to do something; Finding an answer or solution to a conflict or problem.”
While it’s not a bad idea to take a look at our lives, these resolutions are usually very self-centered and we assume that on our own we can accomplish what we set forth. Year after year, when February rolls around, those resolutions are often left by the wayside or don’t quite turn out as we had planned.
I believe the challenge we face when it comes to keeping New Year’s resolutions is that we chose the wrong definition on which to base these resolutions. I prefer Webster’s alternative definition of a resolution:
“The process or capability of making distinguishable an object or source of light.”
In other words, it’s coming to an understanding of who is our source of light. God is more concerned with who we are becoming than the secular achievements we seek. Throughout the Bible, God has revealed his promises to us. These are his firm decisions to solve the problem or conflict we face daily. Therefore, our resolutions should focus on preparing ourselves to participate in the favor associated with His promises. The favor of God is not about our good plans or ideas. Here are a few of those promises that should transform our resolutions into lifestyle choices. He promised:
- To save and protect you
- To lead and direct your steps
- To fight for you
- To make a way for you
- To answer your prayers
- To give you wisdom and understanding
- To fill you with hope
- To strengthen you with power
- To bless you with good things
- To be faithful to the end.
This year we can escape the traps we usually fall into by following the Bible’s instruction to examine our lives regularly and to seek God’s help to become better persons every day. The Bible says, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord”(Lamentations 3:40). The Bible also tells us how to examine ourselves by, “Setting your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). Brothers, setting our mind to see through God’s eternal perspective, will help us discern what is most important.
Our resolutions will then be guided by God’s will that we, as 1 Peter 1:12 – 19 instructs, walk in holiness:
13 So prepare your minds for service and have self-control. All your hope should be for the gift of grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ is shown to you. 14 Now that you are obedient children of God do not live as you did in the past. You did not understand, so you did the evil things you wanted. 15 But be holy in all you do, just as God, the One who called you, is holy. 16 It is written in the Scriptures: “You must be holy, because I am holy.”[a] 17 You pray to God and call him Father, and he judges each person’s work equally. So while you are here on earth, you should live with respect for God. 18 You know that in the past you were living in a worthless way, a way passed down from the people who lived before you. But you were saved from that useless life. You were bought, not with something that ruins like gold or silver, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, who was like a pure and perfect lamb.
In other words, if we seek first the Kingdom of God everything else will fall into its place. Then your emotional, physical and intellectual resolutions will be grounded in His promises. The Holy Spirit will guide us to “pursue [resolutions of] righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11). Paul understood this principle and confidently said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:3). It was because of the goals set and accomplished by the Old Testament witness of Moses, David, Solomon, Esther, Ruth and the New Testament witness of Jesus Christ Himself. They all got after their goals by pursuing holiness with God’s strength and wisdom.
God’s hasn’t promised us victory without a battle, but the promises are true and the trials of the earth will seem light and momentary in comparison to the great glory that is to come. Moses was to guide the Israelites to the promised land. He trusted in God to provide him the confidence and provision to make it happen. David was able to slay the giant and establish Jerusalem as the capital because he was a man after God’s own heart. Solomon was successful because he prayed to God for wisdom in his decision-making. Esther selflessly fulfilled God’s law to bear one another’s burden by giving herself for the sake of her people. Ruth, who chose to become a faithful part of the community of God’s people, demonstrated that Gentiles were a part of God’s redemptive plan. Jesus, who accomplished the ultimate resolution, was crucified for our iniquities and by His stripes we are set free from the bondage of sin.
Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice
Jesus had enjoyed all the splendor of heaven as God (Phili. 2: 7, 8). Jesus set aside his standing with his father to intercede on our behalf. Jesus offered himself as a sin offering for all the sins of man (Heb. 10: 1-10, 12, 14). Jesus said, “For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26: 28, cp. Acts 2: 38). He became the sacrificial “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” (Jn. 1: 29).
Jesus accomplished grace and salvation for humankind
Grace is defined as the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it. Grace came by Jesus (Jn. 1: 17). Jesus came “that man might have life and have it more abundantly”(Jn. 10: 10). However, my brothers, this eternal life is not unconditional. If eternal life or salvation were unconditional, as some teach, all men would be saved. Scripture teaches, only a relatively few will be saved (Matt. 7: 13, 14). You must believe, repent, confess Christ’s deity, and be baptized for the remission of sins to appropriate God’s grace (Jn. 8: 24, Acts 17: 30, 31, Rom. 10: 9, 10, Acts 2: 38).
Allow the spirit of God inside of you to realize what really matters, to keep you on track and to bring every area of your life under the control of Jesus Christ with this Year’s resolutions. Very simply, it is coming to the place where you think, judge, and react biblically to every situation. When it is the rule and not the exception for you to apply the Bible to your life; when you place every area of your life under the lordship of Jesus Christ; when you can say in everything, “Here I am, Lord. What do You want me to do?” then you are focusing on resolutions that please Jesus Christ.
Dear Heavenly Father, at times we are unsure of what holiness looks like, so allow your spirit to fall upon us to teach us what holiness is. Our spirits are willing but the flesh is weak, so grant us the strength to walk in holiness. We thank you for your Word, which provides us examples of those you have used to accomplish your will. We invite you into our hearts to purge the former lusts so that we can be the person that you have called us to be, a person that walks in your holiness. We trust you, as your ways are higher than our own. Our resolutions may fail but you are unfailing. As you have been faithful in the past, be faithful again.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen.