The Resolution We All Need to Make

As we ease into this New Year, I hope you are finding some peace in this chaotic world in which we live. It is not good to have anxiety, fear, tension, and worry hang out with you each day. Having just gone through Christmas and the New Year’s holidays, many of us find that the old fears and worries have come creeping back; and maybe they have shown up in a very sudden and hurtful way.

Part of dealing with stressful areas of life is setting goals and priorities. I notice that I, and others, get frustrated when there are “too many irons in the fire”. We get a little bit of many things accomplished, but we do not get to the finish line with the important things. We don’t have things prioritized.

So, do you think God has any goals/priorities for you this year? Your spouse does, your boss at work does, your friends may have some ideas, but have you ever thought that God has goals for you? Jesus told us in Luke 9:22 the goal the Father had set for him: “And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”” Did you catch the goals for his earthly life? Suffering, rejection, a cruel death and resurrection. Sounds like a raw deal for the King of Kings, doesn’t it?

You and I also get to experience these things. Life is wonderful, but you and I have suffered greatly at times. We all love close friendships and family, but sometimes rejection and relationships break. We are all born, and one day we will take our last breath. Then when the time is right, God will resurrect our bodies to be united with our spirits. Some to eternal life in heaven. Some to eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire.

If we are to have goals for this year, is there any chance that the things we accomplish can outlast this mortal life? The Biblical answer is Yes! We can glean some insights into that from Luke 9: 23-24: “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Did you catch the three goals stated? Deny yourself, not exactly something our culture is known for these days. The Greek term means to act entirely unlike yourself. I think of meeting this goal God has for us as to renounce my right to be king and let Jesus take over, and put others interests above my own.

Goal two is the command to “take up my cross daily”. The cross beam was the place and instrument of death. In other words, what thoughts, values, actions do you need to get rid of that cause your strife and stress in life? Selfishness, pride, bullying, over-spending on things that don’t really matter, gossiping, etc. are all things that cause you trouble. What do you need to eliminate from your life in order to be more like Christ?

Then goal three, follow Jesus. Do what he tells us to do, live like God commands us to live. Show grace, love, compassion, kindness, gentleness, thoughtfulness, exercise some self-control with your tongue and hands. Do you get it? The Greek word for follow is to join him (Jesus) as his attendant, as a disciple, as a member of his party/group.

To do these things though, one must be a true follower. A Christian. Have you truly asked Jesus to be your Savior, to forgive your sins, and commit yourself to follow Him? For it is by grace you are saved through faith, ask God for the faith to believe and receive Jesus into your life. That will be the best goal a person could ever achieve.

Dave Carroll is an area missionary with InFaith, America’s oldest Christian home mission agency. He is also pastor of the Wolf Creek Baptist Church. You can contact Dave at 406.459.8935 or [email protected]