A New Year's Resolution Worth Keeping

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Pt 3:18)

I think New Year's resolutions get a bad rap. There is something intrinsically healthy about about setting new goals and actually taking steps to accomplish them. So, what is a better point in our collective lives to do this, than at the start of the New Year?

The bad rap, of course, comes either from the triviality of the resolutions "I will stop yelling at my dog when he barks" or from our inability or unwillingness to carry them out "I will go to the gym every day and only eat food that's healthy for me". The problem isn't with the resolution. The problem is with the resolver.

Last year, I set out to track through Jonathan Edwards resolutions, 1 per week. That lasted twenty some weeks and blessed me while I made the effort.  Now, Desiring God has taken these resolutions and put them into seven categories. One of my goals this year is to review one category per week, thus cycling through all 70 in seven weeks (or maybe eight, since the Spiritual Life category maybe too big to digest in one week).  As things stand now, this will probably be a Sunday afternoon reflection.

However, the real point of this post is to say, apart from devices such as reflecting on Edwards' resolutions or reading our devotional books or following our favorite Bible reading plan, we really need a spiritual objective to make our resolutions meaningful. None of these means will achieve their end if there is no end to achieve. Why read through the Bible in a year? Why pray more or give more or serve more? Why limit our TV or Facebook or Netflix time? Why seek to do something that only the Holy Spirit could empower you to do? (all great resolutions, by the way)

I do not pretend to have the answer to the why questions for you. That's your business with God. But here is something I read this summer by J.C. Ryle that I bookmarked for today.

Believers, if you would have an increase of happiness in Christ’s service, labor every year to grow in grace. Beware of standing still. The holiest men are always the happiest. Let your aim be every year to be more holy–to know more, to feel more, to see more of the fullness of Christ. Do not rest on old grace: do not be content with the degree of Christianity which you have attained. Search the Scriptures more earnestly; pray more fervently; hate sin more; mortify self-will more; become more humble the nearer you draw to your end; seek more direct personal communion with the Lord Jesus; strive to be more like Enoch– daily walking with God; keep your conscience clear of little sins; grieve not the Spirit; avoid arguments and disputes about the lesser matters of religion: lay more firm hold upon those great truths, without which no man can be saved. Remember and practice these things, and you will be more happy.

Have a grace-filled, gospel-centered New Year!

I now send forth this post with a deep sense of its many defects; but with an earnest prayer that it may do some good. (JC Ryle)

To God Alone be the Glory