Believers and non-believers alike often make New Year's resolutions at or near the beginning of each new year. Resolutions most commonly made are those related to losing weight, discontinuing bad habits or developing more positive ones. A comprehensive list of specific ones would be quite long. The leadership of my home church has put forth a bible reading program that encourages our members to read through the Bible this year. This has already been a blessing for me. God has reminded me of a couple of important truths that I thought I would share.
The first one is spoken of in Isaiah 5:20 where we read, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness: who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" Oh, how accurately this describes the times in which we live. May God help us to be aware and yet not disheartened by this truth. In a world where evil is called good, darkness is substituted for light and bitter is substituted for sweet, how much do we need the everlasting truth of God's word to light our ways.
The other passage of scripture I wanted to mention is found in the book of Job. In the beginning of the first chapter we are given some insight into the man that Job was. First, in Job 1:1 we read, "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil." And then in Job 1:5, in reference to Job's concern for his children, we read, "When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually."
Oh, that like Job, we also would turn away from evil! Paul wrote of abhorring that which is evil and clinging to that which is good. Peter wrote of the importance of turning away from evil and doing good. We will not turn away from that which we do not see. By His Spirit and through the study of His holy word, may we have the mind of Christ to recognize evil when it is before us. As the Hebrew author was inspired to write about the importance of maturity, he said that "solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." Oh, how important that we avail ourselves to all that God has provided for spiritual maturity!
And oh, that like Job, we would have a heart for our children in regards to spiritual matters. No, we are not called to offer burnt offerings for our children's sins and we cannot live their life in Christ for them. But I'm talking about the heart of Job. The relationship that his children had with the Lord was a deep concern of his heart continually. When did you last, with great humility of heart, pray earnestly for your sons or daughters? Or perhaps for your grandchildren. If it has been some time, please do so today. May we be serious minded regarding the impact that our life in Christ can have on those close to us.
I cannot help but think of the effect that would be upon the Church, the body of Christ, if God's people resolved to turn away from evil and to cling to what is good. And one can only imagine the impact of believing parents being resolved to be concerned for their children in spiritual matters, continually. Perhaps we will not see the impact of such on the entire body of Christ. But how about an individual life or perhaps a family or a local church? Oh, that Christ may work in our lives, in accordance with His glorious might, to accomplish His will in us. May Christ be glorified in and through our lives this and every other year He grants us.
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