A lot of folks made New
Year resolutions, making all sorts of plans for how they’re going
to change this and improve that. Millions of people across this
country are vowing to lose weight, read their Bibles, go to church.
And once we're a couple months into 2013, millions of people will
still be overweight, underfed, and unchurched.
Back about 1985 or so,
I made my last New Year resolution. Very simple and easy to keep. I
resolved that I would never again make a New Year resolution. I've
managed to keep it every since.
The true reality of
that resolution, though is that I just resolved not to focus on New
Year's Day to resolve important things. For instance, if I am hit
with a need to change something, and it's actually May, I don't make
a note of it and wait until mid-winter. No. I think and pray it over,
then resolve right then and there to make changes. My biggest
resolution this year happened in August. And I'm keeping it.
Sometimes I’m asked
what would be a good resolution to make. Well, here’s one, Colossians 1:21-23: "Once you were alienated from
God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But
now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to
present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from
accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not
moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that
you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under
heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."
The best resolution
that anyone can make actually needs to be made every day. If we go off on
our own, follow the world's so-called good ideas, pursue petty
pleasures that might arise, then we are off on that “evil behavior”
that Paul mentioned. And since we are all imperfect, we should each
resolve to continue in strong faith that comes through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a blessed hope that
no one else can claim. Lay hold of that hope and stand firm as you
enter this New Year. And resolve yourself to it every day.
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