Well, it's the New Year - 2015 is here. And what do we think of when a new year begins? New Year's Resolutions! Most of my life, I have not cared to make New Year's Resolutions. Well...That's not entirely true. I've made them, but I've never kept them. I mean, Resolutions are like rules, right? They're made to be broken. So I would make them with absolutely no intention of keeping them.
Since this week is the first full week of the new year and it marks the beginning of my 2015 blog posts, I thought it fitting to write about New Year's Resolutions as I have actually made some that I intend to stick to. "What are they," you ask? All in good time, my dear reader.
First I think it's a good idea to define this word, "Resolution." I think knowing the meaning of something is extremely helpful in the application process. I employed one of my favorite online resources to help us accomplish this goal: Dictionary.com (If you didn't know, I'm a word nerd. And unashamed). Dictionary.com defines a resolution as "a resolve; a decision or determination" and "the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose." These New Year's Resolutions that people make are meant to be enacted. They are born of determination and firmness of purpose.
Now that we are all clear on the dictionary's definition of a resolution, let's look at it from a different perspective. Let's consider Resolutions as a Christ-follower might. What does the Bible have to say about this idea of New Year's Resolutions? As far as I know, nothing. It's not like Hezekiah 1:15 says, "Each year you must vow to change at least three things you hate about yourself. However, the chances are great that you will give up by the first day of the second month." There isn't even a book called Hezekiah!
While Scripture doesn't overtly address yearly resolutions, it does make it clear that there ought to be a constant changing going on in the life of a Believer. We should consistently be resolving (see what I did there?) to be more like Christ. I John 2:6 explicitly says, "Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did." (NIV) I also like how The Message puts it: "Anyone who claims intimacy with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus." And The Amplified really brings it home: "Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself." I don't think it could be presented more clearly than that. If you call yourself a Christian your lifestyle ought to look like Christ's.
So here's a quick recap: a resolution as defined by the dictionary is "a resolve; a decision or determination; firmness of purpose." And as defined by Scripture a resolution is a decision to live like Christ. I definitely think that the dictionary definition can be useful when it comes to putting the Scriptural definition into practice.
I want you to be giving some serious and prayerful thought to anything in your life that doesn't measure up to the example of Christ. Maybe there's a lesson you know He's been wanting to teach you for a while, but you've run away from it. Maybe there's just some area in your life - like loving others - that could use some work. Talk it over with God, see what He wants to change in you, and then resolve to make that change. Very soon, I'll be publishing a follow-up post about the application of resolutions (including the release of my personal goals for the year). Until then,
Prayers and Love!
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