Biblical Resolutions for a New Year
I’ll be honest, I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. I’m too much of a realist, and I hate setting myself up for failure! I typically would be one of the 25% who abandons their resolution within the first two weeks of January! It is also very depressing to hear that only 8% of people who make a New Year’s resolution keep or achieve them!
A quick google search brings out some interesting facts about New Year’s resolutions. Most are self-focused. The top four resolutions, according to one study are:
Diet & health-related - 71%
Exercise more - 65%
Save more, spend less, pay debts - 32%
Quit smoking/drinking - 21%
Having said that, I do think that it’s important to take time to regularly review how we are growing as disciples of Jesus. New Year’s is a good time to do this as we are filled with anticipation and expectation for new opportunities. Let me suggest THREE BIBLICAL RESOLUTIONS that each of us may practice and use as a template for our spiritual growth.
READ THE BIBLE - studies show that the level of biblical literacy in Canada is on the decline, even among those who profess to be Christians. Other studies show that daily Bible reading among Christians is also on the decline. The Apostle Paul encourages young Timothy; “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). To be a growing disciple of Jesus we need to resolve to be consistent in studying and feeding spiritually on the Word of God.
REFLECT JESUS TO OTHERS - we live in troubling times and emotions run high in many. Just watch the evening news or listen to political candidates. “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:12-14). Reflecting Jesus is more than just words, witnessing or worship, it’s displaying the heart attitude of Jesus to those whom God brings into our lives.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER - we live in a world filled with envy, strife, disagreements, and contentions. Sadly, this often describes how Christians treat other Christians they disagree with. If we want to grow as disciples of Jesus, we must grow in our love for one another. Jesus said; “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). Our faith is often demonstrated to others by the way we interact with each other. Loving one another often involves letting go of our rights, our wants and intentionally serving others and meeting the needs of others before ourselves.
Granted, these RESOLUTIONS won’t make you thin, physically healthy, or debt-free. But they just might help you grow more like a disciple of Jesus, and they can be practiced any time, all year long!
Looking forward to accomplishing these biblical resolutions together!
Rev. Bill Allan
AGC President