Resoulutions

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I would like to talk briefly about New Years resolutions. They have been defined as something that comes in one year and goes out the other.

I would like to challenge us with a resolution for the coming year to be made on an individual basis and with some very serious commitment to keeping that resolution.

Before we get to that I would like to share some things that will introduce us to the resolutions. In looking through our Christmas cards we were struck by some of the comments that were forthcoming and the reality or lack of reality behind the comments. Let me share a few with you just to set our direction this in this study.

This card came from a Bible college graduate and pastor of about seven years. "Christmas is magic - Christmas is peace - Christmas is love" That was the front. The inside read as follows: "Wishing you magic to light this festive season, peace to brigthten each tomorrow, love to keep you happy always!"

A comment from a young lady that is living with a boyfriend: "We are doing better as we (my immediate family) struggle to live for Christ!"

A comment from a father that is living with a woman and allows his teenage son to bring his girlfriend home for the night. The father has daughters living with men after divorces and remarriages and one on cocaine. "In spite of what appears to be an unbearable situation the Lord continues to bless me and my family."

A comment from a wife that had mentioned that the family had flown to California for vacation with family members and spent two days at Disney land and then returned home after a jaunt to Arizona. "What a year of growth as we have experienced God's answer to our prayers and daily needs." Daily needs include a two-day trip to Disney land? Vacations aren't wrong and I don't want anyone to say that I said that! They however are not needs!

Just where are we headed as believers in this world. How many comments have we made that sound as foolish as some of these? Are we really serious about our Christianity?

I would like to read the card we received from a man that has been through divorce and several marriages and then accepted the Lord. I think the card is descriptive of a man that knows his Lord and is operating in reality.

"Where would we be without Jesus? He was born of a woman so we could be born of God... He humbled Himself so we could be lifted up... He became a servant so we could be made heirs... He suffered rejection so we could be His friends... He denied Himself so we could freely receive all things... He gave Himself so He could bless us in every way! MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR KNOW EVERY BLESSING OF HIS LOVE"

I trust that most of us are operating in reality and not finding ways of rationalizing wrong living into looking as if we are walking with God.

I have never in my life made a New Years resolution. I have often wondered why in the world anyone would. I've never known anyone to keep one that they had made.

I looked up resolution and found that one of the first definitions is not what we think of in relation to New Years, but is actually very fitting of the real life resolutions. "the act or process of reducing to simpler form: as a: the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones...." Isn't that what is done. You look at that dumb resolution and reduce it to some simple rationalizations that will pass for keeping the original resolution so that you feel good about it.

The real idea is that you are going to do something in the coming year and you are going to see to it that you do it. You will be resolute about it!

Resolute means, "marked by firm determination" (both quotes are from Webster.) It has been said, "A resolution is always stronger at its birth than at any subsequent period." (14,000 Quips & Quotes for Writers and Speakers)

The determination of a resolution usually dwindles with the sleep that follows such foolish acclamations. Or as it has been well said, "Most of the leaves we turned over in January have already started to fall." (ibid)

In our thinking in this study I would like for us to put aside the usual thought of broken resolutions and concentrate on the thought of deciding to do something that is very serious and very important.

In light of what our Christmas cards revealed I think it is safe to say that some Christians are very certainly affected by the world in which we live.

As to the resolution I am suggesting, it is simple. Resolve this coming year to consider all of your normal activities in light of whether they are Biblical or worldly. Consider every activity even if it is small. Would you enjoy meeting the Lord doing that activity? Is it really something you want to be doing when The Lord returns for us?

This resolution is something that you can make in secret, as far as man is concerned anyway, and is something that only a little thought each day will help you accomplish. If you want a scripture to go with this thought you can look at Rom. 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind...." If we are being affected by the world, and I believe most of us are, we need to be renewing our mind on a continuing basis to see to it that the Lord wins over the world.