I’m sure by now you have heard many people wish someone a Happy New Year! It will be proclaimed many times this week. You will also hear them talk about their new resolutions. Some feel like failures before they even begin, while others will have a determination about them, and they will at least start the year with zeal.
Some may think that resolutions are silly, but the Bible is full of men who made resolutions. In Daniel 1:8, Daniel and his friends have been captured by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The King saw Daniel and his friends as fine young men to be prepped for service to Him. As favored young men, they would be given the best of everything. This would include drinking wine and eating meat offered to idols. Daniel and his friends took a stand and refused to eat the meat or drink the wine. They purposed, or rather resolved, they would not defile themselves. This was not an easy thing to do, they were rejecting the King and they would be subject to the wrath of the King.
Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
Our next example is in Matthew 1:9. Joseph is a just man, God-fearing and seeking to do what is right. He finds himself in a situation that could ruin his public testimony. He is engaged to a woman who is now pregnant, and not with his child. By Jewish law, he could break the engagement and have nothing to do with her. She could be forced to bear the reproach all alone. However, when the angel spoke to Joseph in a dream and explained this child was of God he chose to marry her and follow God’s plan. I can only imagine the wagging tongues of the town gossips, however, Joseph resolved to do the right thing.
Matthew 1:19 “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.”
In Colossians 3:12-17, Paul is telling the Colossians to resolve to forgive, show charity, be thankful, sing psalms and spiritual songs, to be meek, humble, and longsuffering, but to do these things for one reason, that they would be done in the name of Jesus. All that we do needs to be examined to determine if it will bring glory to God or self. Paul led such a life and was able to challenge other believers to do the same.
Colossians 3:12-17 “Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
In Acts chapter 7, Stephen was another example of making and keeping a resolution. He had resolved to proclaim Christ to the Jews, even if it cost him his life, and it did. With his last breath, he asks God not to hold them guilty of killing him.
How were these men able to make and keep their resolutions? First, they were resolutions that were biblically based. Resolutions that were not trivial or self-serving, but ones that would honor God. For instance, it is biblical to take care of our bodies because the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and we can be better servants if we are healthy. However, if the only reason you want to lose weight is to look better, your reason is selfish, and will not bring glory to God.
I Corinthians 6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
These men were able to keep these because they were God-honoring, but they were also not based on their own efforts. We can be successful if we will depend on God.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”
We must understand that in being able to “do all things through Christ who strengthens us,” we must depend on His strength continuously. The keeping of our resolutions depends on His strength within us, not our own effort.
Ephesians 3:16 “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”
Colossians 1:11 “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”
This week we began a new year, a new opportunity to think through the past year, examine ourselves, and determine where we can change to be more like Christ. I challenge you to examine your attitudes, your actions, and your spiritual growth. Compare yourself to scripture, not to someone else. We can all find someone closer to God than we are, and someone further away from God than we are. Be honest with yourself and honest with God, that’s the only way to have a truly Happy New Year!
