It's that time of year
again. Just about everyone has some resolutions for the new year, some
things that they've previously tried to get into the habit of doing but
have never been able to conquer. We try and take advantage of the fresh
start of January and decide to lose weight, to start exercising, to save
more, to spend less time at work and more time with the kids.
A
resolution
(re-solve) is an intention, a pledge, a commitment to do better. While
aspirations of investment programs and work out routines are certainly
important, we need to set some spiritual goals as well that will help us
be more devoted and dedicated Christians in 2010 than we were in 2009.
Set
your house in order.
So said Isaiah to
King Hezekiah when the Lord was about to require his life
(2
Kings 20:1). This
was not just a plea to arrange his will and estate, but to prepare
himself for his inevitable meeting with his God. You need to set
your
house in order and make ready
your
affairs for such an appointment. You cannot cancel it, postpone it, or
be late for it —"it is appointed for men to die once and after this
comes the judgment"
(Heb
9:27). We just
need to be ready for it.
Burn
your bridges.
In
Acts
19, the people in
Ephesus responded to Paul's preaching and many who had been practicing
magic and sorcery brought their books together and began burning them in
the sight of all. Upon their conviction and conversion, they realized
that their former sinful practices were a hindrance to their spiritual
growth, and they disposed of them. They did not pack all the books in a
box and place them in the attic so they could return to them during a
moment of weakness, they burned them.
We
need to burn our bridges in the new year. This involves completely
cutting ourselves off from the things of the world that entice us and
lure us into Satan's traps. If we don't, there is a greater temptation
to return to them.
Keep
your faith.
Some of our people
dropped out of the race this last year because they decided that the
temporary pleasures of sin were greater than the eternal rewards of
righteousness. Paul, who could have given up several times, said "I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the
faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness"
(2 Tim
4:7-8). Make a
resolution to keep pressing forward, no matter what obstacles are thrown
in your path, no matter who tries to stand in your way. It's worth it.
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