It is that time of year when everyone starts to think about the New Year. Christmas is over, and the thoughts go to the next holiday, New Year’s Day! We begin to think of resolutions and things that we would like to change in the future. The first one on most people’s list is to lose weight! That tops the charts as the most popular in America. As a Christian, I believe we need to make some spiritual resolutions. Things we would like to change to be a better Christian. For most, resolutions are easily made and easily broken. So how can we make spiritual resolutions and keep them?
To change a behavior there must be a motivational factor. In other words, what is important enough to you to make you discipline yourself to succeed? For instance, if someone told me that unless I changed my eating habits I would not have but a year to live, I can assure you that it would consume me until I got it right.
So, what is our motivational factor to keep a spiritual resolution? Here are two that motivate me.
- One day I will stand before God and give an account for the deeds I have done since I have been saved. The mere thought of that makes me ashamed and fearful. I am not afraid of missing Heaven, that is not what this judgment is about. But fearful because I love him, and I don’t want to disappoint Him. I long to hear Him say “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
II Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
- Others are watching me. When I think of this reason I think of the life of Lot. He had a great opportunity to influence his family toward God, but he blew it! He chose Sodom and Gomorrha because he was greedy. When he looked at the land he saw that it was well-watered, so he chose the best for himself. He should have given what appeared to be the best to his Uncle Abraham.
His love for God was not what it should have been, or the outcome of his family would have been different. He lost all his family except two of his daughters. What a horrible thought that Lot’s influence was not a godly one to his daughters. His wife did not trust him enough to believe what he said. They were told not to look back, but her desire overcame her, and her life was lost.
Genesis 19:14-15 “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.”
Genesis 19:26 “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
II Peter 2:6 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly;”
Paul makes it very clear that we are to be an example to others. We are to live a life that will lead others to Christ.
Philippians 3:17 “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.”
We are to be an example to all those around us. Little ones are watching, friends and coworkers evaluate us, and even other Christians examine us to see if our words match our actions. We can lead others wrong if we are not disciplined in our lives. The Barnes notes commentary states it like this: “There are usually two kinds of professing Christians in every church – those who imitate the Saviour, and those who are worldly and vain. The exhortation here is, to “mark” – that is, to observe with a view to imitate – those who lived as the apostles did. We should set before our minds the best examples, and endeavor to imitate the most holy people.”
These two reasons are enough to cause me to think before I act. It boils down to my love for my Savior and my love for my fellow man.
Luke 10:27 “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.”
Loving God supremely and loving others as I love myself, will help us to choose what is best, not just what is ok. That should be the resolve of every Christian!
Excellent