More Resolve for 2022!

Last week, the last Sunday of 2021, we looked at the difference between a resolution and a resolve. The definition of resolve is this: to make a definite and serious decision to do something. We looked at the example of presenting resolutions at a board meeting. Nothing really happens until they are adopted and the last line of all resolutions to legal things like constitutions alway begin with be it resolved that… Once it’s been resolved and adopted it becomes active. So we looked at the resolve for this year of serving the Lord wholeheartedly, ministering life to fellow believers, not causing others to stumble and becoming a doer, not just a hearer, of the word!

Today we continue to look at some of the “resolves” in the Word of God!

Exodus 33:13–17 AMP

13 Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people. 14 And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. 15 And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! 16 For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth? 17 And the Lord said to Moses, I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight and I know you personally and by name.

God’s presence needs to be our main need!

I don’t know about you but there are times I personally don’t even check if what I’m doing is happening with God’s presence. Now I know we don’t live in the Old Testament like Moses and that God is always with us because of Jesus. But there still can be times that we don’t acknowledge His presence and think that we can DO THIS! That can be dangerous and can cause us grief. So we need to make a resolve that we always check with God to make sure we are following His advise and not our own.

Matthew 20:20–28 The Message

20 It was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons and knelt before Jesus with a request. 21 “What do you want?” Jesus asked. She said, “Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at your left hand.” 22 Jesus responded, “You have no idea what you’re asking.” And he said to James and John, “Are you capable of drinking the cup that I’m about to drink?” They said, “Sure, why not?” 23 Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. My Father is taking care of that.” 24 When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. 25 So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. 26 It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. 27 Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. 28 That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”

We need to be like Jesus and serve

Doing a great job for Jesus only comes from becoming a slave to everyone. Our example, Jesus, gave His life for everyone who was held hostage. He didn’t just serve the ones that would bring attention to Him and make Him look good, No He died for all mankind. He was the ultimate model of being a servant of everyone including those that actually hated Him. That means we have to make a serious decision to do this.

Matthew 5:13–16 The Living Bible

13 “You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 You are the world’s light—a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. 15 Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.

We have to be serious about our witness!

Do you remember the song What the world needs now is love sweet love. Ok maybe I’m showing my age. But what the world definitely needs is the hope that only Jesus can bring. And the only way the world will know about Him is if we keep our unique Christian testimony. Remember what it says in

Romans 10:8–15 ESV

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

So we must be serious and resolute about sharing this faith in Jesus that has changed our lives!