Resolve

It's the beginning of a new year, and I've been reflecting on my goals for this blog and for my own life. I thought I'd share what's on my mind.

I'm committed to the message of this blog--to teach my brothers and sisters in Christ to hold tightly to their relationship with Christ, and to reject every argument and influence that could destroy that relationship. We, as Christians, live in a spiritual battlefield, and it's hard to keep our heads when our very lifestyle is under attack from all directions. I've watched so many people lose sight of the hope God had given them and turn their backs on their faith in order to gain acceptance and peace in this world. This is a problem, because I can confidently say that no one actually finds permanent acceptance and peace among people.

We need love that doesn't give up and forgiveness that is limitless, even though we know that we are flawed and that we aren't always worthy of love. Our ideal friend is always available at a moment's notice and a guide who never leads us into a trap, but we know that all people have temporal limits and are fallible. We plan our future and store up money and possessions but can never be secure about anything to come. We are constantly looking for some way to fill that place in our hearts and lives, but so many people fall short of finding and keeping it.

We don't need to place our hope in a force or consciousness that can be shaped to suit our purposes. We don't need a fallible, temperamental or unforgiving being like us. We need a God above all of that, a God outside of everything, who involves Himself in our life not for a joke or a hobby, but because He really cares. We don't need a false god like ourselves; we need to follow a God who is closer to us than our brother or sister. We need Jesus.

"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, 'Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' No the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it" (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).

"Jesus said to them, 'I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world'" (John 6:32, 33).

What God sent from heaven to us is Jesus, and it is Jesus we should receive wholeheartedly. Have you included Jesus in your plans for this year?
This year, resolve to follow Jesus, even if you can't follow your diet and exercise plan. Refuse to give up on God. If you fail, get up and try again. In this way, you can live out the promise in the Bible:

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves....Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10: 16, 22-23).