Do you make new year’s resolutions each year? This year my wife CJ and I spent New Year’s Eve in a hotel in Alabama on our way to renting a condo in Florida for January. We watched the TV shows where they asked people about resolutions for 2018, and they said things like “lose weight & get in shape”, “be a better person”, “world peace”, and somewhat new this year, “don’t be judgmental”. These first 3 are typical ever year and are always good ideas, but the last one seemed a little naïve to me. After all, everybody is judgmental about certain areas of life, and we as Christian are called to be discerning and judge each other as brothers & sisters to help keep each other on track! I think what these people really mean is “I want to do anything I want in life, even if it’s destructive or decadent, but I don’t want you to criticize me and make me feel guilty or bad about it!”

So, what about Christians and resolutions? Well, it’s always good to want to be healthier, to do good things for others, and to work on better attitudes and discipline in your life. ( My wife recently reminded me that I’m not as patient as I was when I was younger. I don’t know where she gets that idea, but I will patiently wait for her to see the real truth!) Anyway, while there is nothing wrong with resolving to improve your life, I think we need to remember 2 major Biblical perspectives relating to these issues:

1) All the really good and healthy things we seek in life are already “baked in” to a new relationship with God through Jesus Christ!
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
From the point we decide to follow Jesus and surrender control of our life to him, God works in us through his Holy Spirit to slowly transform us, over our lifetime, to become more like Jesus in our thoughts and actions. God transforms our minds and helps us see things from his perspective daily, and this allows us to automatically change for the better and treat others more like Jesus would. Paul encourages us:
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
This is a daily & ongoing process of mind renewal, empowered by Bible meditation & prayer, that will keep us on course and help us stay the course to be used by God each day! And as we seek first an intimate relationship with God, Jesus promises us that we will have all we ultimately need to be fulfilled in life!
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:28-34 (NIV)

2) The best changes in our lives do not come from our human resolve and will-power (resolutions); they come from an intimate, powerful relationship with Jesus!
Jesus told us:
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. – John 15:1-4, 7-8 (NIV)
There is always a tension in the Christian life between what God, through his power, is doing in our lives to transform and direct us, and what he is calling us to do ourselves in obedience to him. Too often, we Christians “resolve” to improve ourselves and direct our lives, hoping God will bless our best efforts. This never works in the long run! Jesus longs for us to be intimately connected to him, and as he nourishes us through that connection, he enables us to be fruitful and do many good things in his name!
Notice that he often “prunes” us through the set-backs, hardships, and tragedies we face in life. It is usually through struggle that we grow stronger and more dependent on Jesus. No one can control the circumstances we will face in 2018! The truth is, all of us will have some difficulties, perhaps even tragedies, as well as joys and wonderful unexpected happenings. The only thing we Christians can truly control is our desire to stay close and connected to Jesus, letting him guide us through this year with his mercy, grace, and love.

We have a dear friend that began his year with the news that his brother was killed in a tragic accident on New Year’s Eve. We never see something like that happening, and nobody wants to experience that kind of agony and loss. But I know this: my friend is intimately connected to Jesus, and I know Jesus has the power and mercy to carry him through this tragedy and actually make him stronger in character and faith because of this ordeal. And knowing my friend, I have no doubt that this is what will happen.
Someone has said God is more concerned with our character that he is with our comfort. This year, resolve to make your relationship with Jesus your #1 goal. Trust him to be by your side through the joys and the difficulties you will face, and ask him to strengthen you in character and use you to do the great things he has planned for you in 2018. After all, Jesus’ plans and power and greater and more wonderful than anything you could resolve for yourself!

I wish for all of you in 2018 this prayer from Paul to the Ephesian church:
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
– Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)