New Years Resolutions
Did you set any resolutions this year? Perhaps to exercise more, lose a few pounds, or have family devotions. There are many resolutions and this passage indicates some powerful resolutions for this year.
Ephesians 5:8-21 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them]. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
As God’s Children it ought to be our resolution to keep all of God’s Word. The passage here in Ephesians 5 gives some powerful resolutions which if kept will yield a year of profit. How many days out of the year will I purpose to walk by these resolutions? It happens to be a leap year-366?
Resolved: Walk as a child of light; walk different from the darkness. I must choose to let my light shine and this will reprove the darkness around me. It will also make manifest or reveal the truth. I must choose to walk in the light as He is in the light. Believers are the light of the world and are to shine as lights in the inky darkness of this world’s culture.
Resolved: Prove what is acceptable to the Lord. Not everything is acceptable to the Lord. It matters not if I think it is acceptable nor my friends. Does the Lord think it acceptable? Does it please Him? Hold it up to the Sonlight and prove the activity, action, and association. This will guide our paths into ways that please Him this year.
Resolved: Cut off anything associated with the works of darkness. These are unfruitful when compared to the fruit of the Spirit. I must choose to not fellowship with these. I cannot have them in my “ship”. Call out anything that is of the darkness-reprove it. There is much secret and shameful activity done in the dark. As a child of light I ought to have nothing shameful and secret in my testimony. Nothing in the closet. Don’t even speak about the works of darkness. This is a good case for simplicity concerning evil.
Resolved: Cast off spiritual slothfulness and slumber. Light and life come when we are awake and they come from Christ. Let us rise up and realize the time that it is. Diligence must be the daily choice of the believer. Romans 13:11-14 11 And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].
Resolved: To walk circumspectly. This is to look in every direction with care. This is diligence to be exact to follow the plan that the Lord has for us. It is to give diligence to walk the path straight. Let us liken it to stalking whitetail in the woods. Each step is with care so you don’t miss an opportunity.
Resolved: To live as a wise man applying the Scriptures and not as a fool. The fool does not consider the consequences of his choices. He does not apply the truth that he has heard. He does not give care and concern spiritually. He lives for self. He fritters his time. Ecclesiastes 10:2 A wise man’s heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
Resolved: Redeem the time. This is to buyback or it will be lost. How much time is lost or spent upon foolish pursuits? The Lord gives us time which we are able to redeem and use for that which profits. We all get the same amount of time each day and week but it is all not redeemed. We may wonder how many moments are cashed in for Christ and recorded in the bank of Heaven.
Resolved: To understand the Will of the Lord. To not understand it is foolish. Many make wrong decisions and take wrong directions because they fail to understand God’s will. May we determine to be wise by discerning The Lord’ will this year. How often we make decisions when not in obedience and fellowship with the Lord. This is a sure fire way of missing God’s good acceptable and perfect will.
Resolved: To not be brought under the power of any controlling substance other than the person of the Holy Spirit. Many are controlled by spirits rather than the Spirit of Truth. May we keep under our body and bring it under subjection this year. We must rule it, not it us. Let us be filled with the Spirit of God so that we might know His fruitfulness and usefulness for Christ.
Resolved: To have a heart full of praise joy and song that not only fills the heart but also reaches those that are around us. We must share with others what the Lord is joyfully doing in our heart. What is the melody line in my heart for these days? Do I have a song to the Lord? May I sing more praise this year.
Resolved: To give thanks for all things to the Father through Jesus Christ. All comes from Him. Do we have a heart filled with gratitude? Let us be rid of a heart of expectancy and let it be replaced with humility. God is His grace has given us so much to be thankful for.
Resolved: To have a godly submission towards our fellow believers and the relationships even in our homes. We must be a servant and put ourselves under others for their good and God’s glory. Humility is thinking less of self, more of others, and most of Christ.
As we pen resolutions and have good intentions to carry them out, Help us Lord to fulfill them.