Resolutions that matter

A New Year

A New Year is just around the corner. In reality the difference between December 31st and January 1st is 1 second.

The reality is it is just another day, but for many people we look at the beginning of the New Year as a fresh start. A Chance to correct mistakes, improve ourselves and usually set unobtainable goals for ourselves.

We call these goals New Years resolutions. In the next 48 hours or so, people all over the place will make for themselves a bunch of resolutions like, I’m gonna eat less or work out more. These are the two most common, but by February or March or January 2nd these good intentioned resolutions usually fizzle out leaving the resolver feeling defeated, like a quitter, and often discouraged.

I mean if everyone who resolved to learn a new instrument did this world would be way more musical.

So whether you think New Years resolutions are dumb, or a good idea, I think one thing we can all agree on is everyone likes the idea of a fresh start.

And so as we enter into another New Year I would like to take this time to talk to you about Resolutions that matter.

To Do This I want to look at

Colossians 3:1–17 NLT

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

In this passage Paul talks a lot about what we should be doing and not doing like getting rid of anger, and how we need to be forgiving.

Leaving at peace, being thankful. I reality any one of theses things could make a hard enough resolution on its own but in verse 10 Paul really sums up what he is getting at here. from verse 1-17 what Paul is really talking about in this very detailed lists is...

Colossians3:10

Colossians 3:10 NLT

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

In this verse the word become comes from the greek work ekion and means image or likness, a portrait or living image.

So Paul is able to put all these resolutions into one.

Become more like God as if you were a living Portrait of Him. Not that you would be God, but that you would resemble Him.

Now is that so hard? Yup you thought losing 10 pounds was a hard resolution.

So this morning I want to give you the secret to looking more like God, because This New Years I would hope you would all make the same resolution...

To be More Like God

So what is The secret?

Get to know God better

Me: They say the longer a couple have been married the more they begin to look/act like each other. I don’t know how true that is, but I do know every time I make an obscure quote my wife gets it. In fact we will often quote things at the same time. Sometimes it feels like we are the same person. And why is that you ask. We spend a lot of time together.

We: If we want to respond to situations more like God would and be more like Him the secret is to spend as much time with Him as possible.

God: In v. 10 we are told we will be renewed as you learn… The word as is an awesome word. It means in the process of time. As you learn more about God you will become more like Him. You will forgive more and be angry less, you will be freed from sexual immorality, and the whole list Paul came up with can be worked towards by simply getting to Know God better.

You: Doesn’t that sound easier than attacking each one of those items one at a time. Rather allowing God to renew you as you learn more about Him. But here is the thing...

We: It is cumulative...