Thought for Today

Numbers 30:2  When a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.  

Psalm 119:106  I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances.

Romans 14:13  Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another.

2 Thessalonians 1:11  To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith,  

New Year’s Resolutions currently seem to be a favorite topic for television morning talk shows and newspaper columns. My first thought whenever I hear mention of them is to wonder how long the resolve will last. Are you a New Year’s Resolution maker? If so, have you broken them yet?

Whenever I am asked, I respond that I am not a resolution maker. Taken in the broadest sense, that is not really true. I cannot imagine that anyone has never made a vow, sworn an oath or pledged allegiance. For my generation, saying the Pledge of Allegiance was part of our morning ritual in elementary school each day. Unimaginable as it may seem, so too was reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

For many, making a New Year’s Resolution involves a (VERY) casual resolve to “lose those last 5 pounds,” or to be more diligent at something, e.g. “going to church more often.” They are pledges more honored in the breach than in conforming to them. We make vague, general resolutions/pledges/oaths which sound good when we make them. Rarely do we associate them with any metrics for measurement or with specific target completion dates. Would anyone ever accept a contract from a workman or a supplier without specific metrics for measurement, without completion dates or without definitions for what completion even is?

Sadly, far too often we treat many of the resolutions of our daily lives just as we do our New Year’s Resolutions. The divorce rate in our nation suggests to me that even many who are married in a church quickly forget the resolutions they made to each other and to God. “Till death do us part,” “in sickness and in health,” “richer or poorer,” all are serious resolutions. No one should ever remain in an abusive relationship, married or otherwise. No one should ever remain in a hate-filled relationship, married or otherwise. But, maybe we should all resolve to work harder at fulfilling the promises we make to each other and to God.

Think for a minute about all the resolutions you have made, all the oaths you have taken, all the promises you have made. Many of the headlines we read and news stories we hear on television involve citizens of our nation who have pledged allegiance to our country. One of the events of this new year involves a heinous act against our nation by a native-born citizen who served in our armed forces, someone who resolved to protect our country.

Should Christians make New Year’s Resolutions? Should we even need to? Some years ago, I answered the altar call at Bethany Christian Church in Houston, Texas. In that faith tradition, I was asked in front of the entire congregation, “Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.” My answer in the affirmative, my public confession of faith was a resolution, an oath and a pledge. As a youth, did I fully understand all the implications in my “Yes?” Certainly not.

Greta and I are looking forward to celebrating our 59 anniversary this summer. When I stood up in First Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas and pledged my ‘troth’ to her, did I fully understand all the implications in my “I do?” Certainly not.

Do I need any New Year’s Resolution to be a better citizen, a better Christian or a better husband? Not really. All I need to do, is to do what I have already pledged to do. Micah long ago wrote, “6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” If doing that is enough for God, it should cover all the other resolutions I could ever make

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Stay safe, resolve to do justice, love kindness and to walk humbly with God,

Pastor Ray