New Year’s Resolutions

This is the time of the year when we tend to take stock of ourselves and our lives.  We often make promises on things that we try to improve – many of which we never complete.

In the early 1700’s, Jonathan Edwards compiled a list of 70 resolutions. While we may review our resolutions every year, Edwards committed to reviewing his resolutions every week! You can read Edwards’ complete list here.

Instead of making yet another annual list of promises that I cannot keep, here is my list of resolutions for this year and following:

1. Resolved to seek Christ as the top priority in my life.

All other priorities must take a secondary role after Christ.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 

2. Resolved to developing spiritual growth in myself, my family, and in other believers where I have contact.

It is not enough to pass the time or to make good conversation. We  must  continue to grow in our own lives and seek to build each other up.

Hebrews 3:12-13
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called”Today,”so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

 

3. Resolved to present Christ to those who do not know him.

Walk the talk, but also look for opportunities to speak of him.

1 Peter 3:15
but set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

 

4. Resolved to be honorable and exemplary in my professional life.

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

 

5. Resolved to be active and responsible in physical, financial, mental, and social matters.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

 

6. Resolved to never break from the fight against temptation.

Philippians 3:19-20
… whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

 

7. Resolved to seek out service to others, not for my gain, but for the advancement of Christ and for building up others.

James 2:15-17
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them,”Go in peace, be warmed and be filled”, and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

 

8. Resolved to repent and seek forgiveness when I fail in these things.

1 John 1:8-9
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.