A NEW RESOLUTION FOR 2022

 

A Christians resolution for 2022 

It is a new year, and a time when about 45% of the population make new years resolutions....and about 25% of those are not successful.

It calls to question….what do we want from life? Many people do not make new years resolutions….What is the Christian concept of new years resolutions….

God’s word does not speak for or against..... the concept of New Year’s resolutions.....

But the concept started about 4000 years ago.....With the Babalonians..... as a 12 day pagan event....where people made resolutions.... to please their various gods....to gain their favor

I personally do not make new years resolutions....mainly because I have tried..... and it never seemed to work out for me....

From John 1:35-38 we read this from God’s word....The next day John was there again with two of his disciples..... When he saw Jesus passing by,.... he said,.....

Look, the Lamb of God!..... When the two disciples heard him say this....., they followed Jesus...... Turning around....., Jesus saw them following and asked,...... What do you want?.....

So reading this scripture...Jesus asks these two men what they wanted....Gives me pause to ask myself....what do I want from following Jesus....Certainly a Christian needs no resolution to answer that question...

Isaiah 55:8-9 puts it this way “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,.... neither are your ways my ways,... saith the LORD.....

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,.... so are my ways higher than your ways,.... and my thoughts than your thoughts.” –

There are three things in life that determine our happiness or our unhappiness.... one is not getting what we want,.... the second is getting what we want.....Sometimes what we want is not what is best for us...

The third thing is getting what we deserve.... The question is if we got what we deserve,.....What response would we have?....Jesus has our answer....in fact Jesus is the answer....the Christian should aspire to be like him...

From Matthew 7:7-8....Jesus speaks these words....Ask and it will be given to you;..... seek and you will find;..... knock and the door will be opened to you.....

For everyone who asks receives.....; the one who seeks finds.....; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.......

There was a young office manager.....Chuck was his name and at his work he kept a legal pad....a to do list...It was a perpetual list.... of what needed to be done....

One day at lunch Chuck was in the park... when he was bitten by a dog that belonged to one of his co workers......the bite was not severe but it concerned Chuck and he asked that the dog be quarantined...

Then about three weeks later....during the office Christmas party....the co worker informed Chuck.... that the dog had developed rabies...Chuck immediately made a doctors appointment...

And was informed by the doctor...that he had rabies.... and there was nothing to be done to save him... Chuck then decided to prepare himself for the enevitable....

He went back to work the next day.....and was busy with his to do list ....when the boss came to him....and asked.....

What are you writing..... shouldn’t you be at home”?...“It’s my new years resolution” Chuck answered ..It’s a list of the people.....I am going to bite....before I die....Not a good resolution.....

What are we to consider.... when making resolution?....First.... it should be something that improves our knowledge...our health….or our station in life...something we want

Second it should be realistic.....something we are able to accomplish.... Then again..... it may be something in life....

that we are struggling with...or a fault that with God’s help.....can be overcome....something we do not want

And in Pauls letter to the Phillipians, chapter 2: 13-15.... For it is God which worketh in you..... both to will and to do of his good pleasure...... Do all things without murmurings and disputings:....

That ye may be blameless and harmless...., the sons of God...., without rebuke....., in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation...., among whom ye shine as lights in the world;.....

 a resolution is not about perfect....it’s about effort....and if you give that effort every day....success will follow.....

That is who we are....As Christians our goal is to brighten the corner where we are...Not only is Jesus our Savior...He is also out mentor...., our teacher...our leader.... the one we want to follow...The one we want to emmulate...

As a Christian we really do want to make a difference in this world.....That is why we follow Jesus.... So be resolved...let your light shine.... It is a good resolution....

And from Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,..... and glorify your Father which is in heaven..