RESOLUTIONS

Making resolutions for the New Year is a common practice for many of us. Many of our resolutions are an attempt at correcting bad habits of the past year. One web site suggests that the most common New Year’s Resolutions are related to eating habits, physical exercise, financial and time management, etc. For most of us, changes in regard to bad habits in those areas will be healthy and productive.
For followers of Christ, resolutions center around spiritual matters. We resolve to read through the Bible, pray more, get involved in a ministry, and focus more on that has eternal value and brings glory to God.
At the young age of 18 to 19 years old, Jonathan Edwards, a relatively new believer, wrote 70 purpose statements for his life that have commonly come to be known as “Resolutions.” Below are the first of his resolutions, which speaks in a comprehensive way of all his resolutions. Thought the language is characterized by the day in which he lived, 1703 to 1758, the truths he communicates are worthy characteristics for us to embrace.
“ Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.”
May God grant us all the wisdom to know what glorifies him most, and pursue that with all our might.