New Year’s Resolutions

“I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to
live by your laws” (Psalm 119:30).

The term “resolution” (as we often think of it)
basically means “firm determination to take a course
of action.”  With each new year people all around the
nation  make their new year’s resolutions.  With some
it is to quit smoking; with others its to go on a diet or
to get more exercise (etc.).   Though intentions are
usually very good, for many it seems that their
determination loses steam in just a short while.

The same kind of frustration can be seen in our
spiritual lives.  It’s not good enough to just talk the
talk, we must also walk the walk.  There is little good
in making noble plans if we will not put those plans
into action and see them through.

God (our most perfect example) says of Himself,
“…Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to
pass.  I have purposed it; I will also do it” (Isaiah
46:11).  Let me encourage you to follow God’s
example.  And let us not only resolve to do the Lord’s
will, let us actually do it.

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Two Groups Face Conviction

In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul describes the profitability of
the gospel of Christ.  Among the things listed is the
word “reproof” which means “conviction” (the state of
being proven guilty).  In the New Testament there are
two notable occasions on which the message
preached actually convicted a whole group of
people.

The first group was guilty of the crucifixion of Christ
(Acts 2:36).  Upon hearing this they were convicted
in their conscience and sought to correct the
situation (v. 37).

The second group was also guilty of the murder of
Christ (7:52).  Upon hearing this they also were
convicted in their conscience (v. 54); however,
instead of seeking to make the necessary correction,
they rejected the message preached and killed the
messenger (vv. 58-59).

Friends, which group do you fit in with?

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Three Men Call Themselves Father

Three men call themselves “father.”  The first man
goes by this title simply because he has children
(thus, verifying the biological connection that he has
with his offspring – cf. Heb. 12:9).

The second man calls himself “father” in a spiritual
sense, but does so as a figure of speech (or,
metaphorically) to emphasize the fact that he has
converted others to Christ through the gospel.  This
is how the apostle Paul used the term in 1
Corinthians 4:15 (cf. 1 John 2:1; 3:18).

The third man also calls himself “father” in a religious
sense, but he uses this designation as a self-reverent
“title.”  On this note Jesus said, “Do not call anyone
on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who
is in heaven” (Matt. 23:9).  For one to call himself
“Father,” “Reverend,” “His Grace,” (etc.) is
sacrilegious – for such reverence belongs to God
alone (Ps. 89:7)!  To call any man by such a title is to
suggest that he is equal with “God.”  Friends, there is
only one God (Eph. 4:6).

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Two Men Have a Decision to Make

Matthew 19:16 tells us of a rich young man who
came to Christ with an important question: “Good
Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have
eternal life?” In Acts 16:30 a jailer asked a similar
question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Both
men received an answer; but how did they respond?

In Matthew’s account, the rich young man was called
upon to make a mighty big sacrifice – to choose
Christ over his vast riches (v. 21).  Unfortunately, he
would not, and departed from the Lord in sorrow (v.
22).  The jailer, however, made the sacrifice of
turning his life over to the Lord, for after hearing the
gospel (Acts 16:32) he (and his family also) were
baptized into Christ (v. 33).

Two men have a decision to make.  Both men are
trying to get onto a lifeboat as their ship is sinking.
The first man wants to be saved but is not willing to
let go of his heavy luggage, and so he drowns.  The
second man quickly discards his luggage and is
received onto the lifeboat – gaining his salvation from
the water.  Friends, which man best describes you?

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Two Men Approach God in Prayer

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a
Pharisee and the other a tax collector” (Lk. 18:10).

According to the gospel accounts the Pharisees, who
were the strictest sect of the Hebrew religion (Acts 26:
5), were notorious for being hypocrites (Matt. 23).
Evidence of this is seen in their self-righteous
posture. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with
himself,’God, I thank You that I am not like other
men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as
this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of
all that I possess’” (Lk. 18:11-12).

On the other hand the tax collector, whose
profession was often branded because of
dishonesty, “standing afar off, would not so much as
raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,
‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ (verse 13).

Jesus gave approval of the tax collector because he
humbled Himself before God – something the
Pharisee would not do.  Which man best describes
you?

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