What Now?

A New Year’s Resolution…

There’s a familiar saying we’ll hear over and over again in the next week: “I’m
making a New Year’s resolution to …” Well, I’ve decided to say, “I’m making a New Life
resolution.”

The world view of resolutions run the gamut from diets and exercise, to spending and
vices, manners and tempers, to everything in-between. As a Christian, I’m going to focus
on “life style” resolutions that revolve around Christ and His example. Sure, we all have
plenty of other things to work on, including those mentioned above. However, Jesus
wants us to exhibit His qualities and attributes as we walk in this world. Our light needs
to shine a bit brighter, and our salt needs to retain more saltiness as the days grow
dimmer and more sinful (Matthew 5:13-16).

King David expressed his sentiments regarding the Lord’s leading. (Psalm 141:3-4) “Set a
guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my
heart to any evil thing…” (Psalm 143:8) “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the
morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I
lift up my soul to You.” I want to resolve to walk in the path God has for me, and to
guard my mouth and heart. I need God’s eye upon me, and His gentle hand of
correction as I journey through this life. I rely more upon Him now, than I did as a new
believer. Year by year, I recognize His new mercies and faithfulness towards me. I am
amazed at His forbearance with me as I fall short of His standard. Praise God there is no
condemnation, but only love and encouragement through His Word.

The Apostle Paul instructs us to know Christ in an intimate way. That intimacy caused
him to “press on and lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”
(Philippians 3:10-12) We have a revelation from Christ that brings a fresh, spiritual
comprehension, which in turn gives us apprehension to live out our Christianity with
boldness. Our confidence cannot be in our flesh, but in the power of God. Look to Him
with the expectation of what He can do in us and through us. As Paul states in verse 13-
14, “but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward
to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus.”

What a great lesson for the New Year and our “New Life” resolution. Look forward, not
backwards. Keep your eye on Jesus and the heavenly goal. Pattern your new ideas and
habits on what the Word teaches. Model yourself after your Maker and Master. Fix
your gaze upon Jesus…He’s all you need to walk in the newness of life.