By Kingsley Baehr
… that when my mother calls me in, I’ll come right when I’m called, because my father bought a hairbrush. (He’s completely bald.)
… that I’ll pick up my dirty clothes and throw them in the hamper, ‘cause if I don’t my mother’s mood becomes a smoth’ring damper.
… that calorific, greasy junk food never sees my lips, ‘cause when it does the large results rest on my waist and hips.
… that I will focus more on others, (being kind and gentle), for if I want to have good friends; these two are fundamental. … that I will also share with them, (for this I do believe), that those who gladly share their funds will more and more receive. … that I will try to do the best I can in word and deed, for if I want to get to heav’n, good deeds are what I need.
I don’t know what kind of New Year’s resolutions you are in the habit of making, if any, but maybe you recognize one among those above.
Did you notice that there is a similar way of thinking in each one?
“I’ll be nice this year, because, if I am, it will be good for me.” or “What do I get out of it?”
This is not good.
God said in Isaiah 43:7 that He created us for His glory. What we need to resolve is whether we want to live for ourselves or for Him.
If your answer is the first, then you don’t need to read any further. But if your resolve is to live for God, here is what He says you must do:
RESOLVE…
… TO ADMIT YOUR SINFULNESS: All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23
… TO ADMIT YOUR HELPLESSNESS TO HELP YOURSELF: For I know that in me… nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. - Romans 7:18
… TO ACCEPT GOD’S GRACIOUS OFFER OF FREE SALVATION: For by grace you are saved through faith, and that faith is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. - Ephesians 2:8,9
… TO DO GOOD WORKS, NOT FOR SALVATION, BUT BECAUSE HE HAS SAVED YOU: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. - Ephesians 2:10
… that I will focus more on others, (being kind and gentle), for if I want to have good friends; these two are fundamental. … that I will also share with them, (for this I do believe), that those who gladly share their funds will more and more receive. … that I will try to do the best I can in word and deed, for if I want to get to heav’n, good deeds are what I need.
I don’t know what kind of New Year’s resolutions you are in the habit of making, if any, but maybe you recognize one among those above.
Did you notice that there is a similar way of thinking in each one?
“I’ll be nice this year, because, if I am, it will be good for me.” or “What do I get out of it?”
This is not good.
God said in Isaiah 43:7 that He created us for His glory. What we need to resolve is whether we want to live for ourselves or for Him.
If your answer is the first, then you don’t need to read any further. But if your resolve is to live for God, here is what He says you must do:
RESOLVE…
… TO ADMIT YOUR SINFULNESS: All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23
… TO ADMIT YOUR HELPLESSNESS TO HELP YOURSELF: For I know that in me… nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. - Romans 7:18
… TO ACCEPT GOD’S GRACIOUS OFFER OF FREE SALVATION: For by grace you are saved through faith, and that faith is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. - Ephesians 2:8,9
… TO DO GOOD WORKS, NOT FOR SALVATION, BUT BECAUSE HE HAS SAVED YOU: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. - Ephesians 2:10