Happy New Year! Did you make any big sweeping resolutions last year? How many did you keep? It’s hard to change habits, but we keep trying. On January 1, it’s customary to take a harsh look at ourselves and see lots of room for improvement. The most popular resolution is to lose weight. Just a few pounds, so it should be easy. Unfortunately, there are leftovers from Christmas, such as cookies, fudge, candy, and more. So, the diet will start as soon as it’s all gone.
That resolution didn’t work out, but maybe resolving to go to the gym and getting the muscles toned is a good idea. A few trips to the gym will take care of it. First, those pesky leftovers need to be eaten. Maybe you’ll go next week, or the week after. The point is, we have good intentions to improve ourselves, but we seem to make the same resolutions every year. Could it be that we make the wrong resolutions?
It may be healthy to eat better and exercise more, but do you look at yourself and only see the negative things that need to be changed instead of seeing positive things that need to be strengthened? We all have struggles in life, but maybe instead of dwelling on the negative, we need to accentuate the positive. Take an honest look at yourself, and you’ll see that you have some very good qualities. Pray for God to lead you.
If you’re very honest with yourself, you might be surprised at the good qualities you have and find ways to use those strengths for God’s glory. We all fall short of God’s perfection, but we all have good qualities that can be developed. A good place to start is to study Scripture. Many people like to read the Bible through in a year. They race through it and then start again in the New Year. The race is on, but have you grown spiritually?
It might be better to do a deep study of Scripture. Take a subject and study it through the lens of Scripture. For instance, did God really give the Holy Land to Abraham forever? The answer is yes, but study Scripture to see for yourself.
God gave us Scripture as a guide. It’s filled with many examples of how He deals with imperfect people and changes them in order to accomplish great things. It’s important to study Scripture in order to answer questions and to be sure you have a Scriptural foundation for your beliefs.
Sometimes we can hold on to an idea or a sin and think we are in line with God’s will when, in fact, we need to change our ways. Your friends may question why you’ve changed, so it’s important to have answers.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ” (1 Peter 3:15-16).
That word, “conversation,” might confuse you a little if you don’t study. Some words have changed meaning over time. When we see that word, we think it means talking with someone. Maybe you do need to clean up your words, but the Greek word “anastrophe” means “manner of conduct, behavior, deportment.” So, if you start living in a way that pleases God, the worldly people around you may start asking you questions. They need good answers as to why you’ve changed your sin-filled lifestyle. Resolve to study Scripture.
What are your character strengths? Are you a person who encourages others? Resolve to make the encouragement be for God’s glory.
A man who stands out as one who encourages is Barnabas. He was from Cyprus and had a bit of wealth. His name was Joses, but the Apostles called him Barnabas. “And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus” (Acts 4:36).
Barnabas is seen throughout the book of Acts as a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit and followed God’s directions. It was Barnabas who saw Saul as a man who had been changed by meeting Jesus and encouraged the Apostles to accept Saul (Paul) as a Christian. Barnabas went with Paul on missionary trips, and I’m sure he gave encouragement during some difficult times. Although Barnabas encouraged Paul, he wasn’t one to compromise what he knew to be right. Paul told Barnabas they should revisit cities where they had preached to see how they were doing.
“And Barnabas determined to take with them, John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought it not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work” (Acts 15:37-38).
John Mark had gone on a previous trip but lost heart and returned home. This was a strong disagreement, and the ministry split. Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus while Paul and Silas went to Syria and Cilicia. Barnabas saw something in John Mark that he felt should be nurtured to grow, just as he had seen qualities in Paul. On the other hand, Paul saw spreading the Gospel as a ministry that should only be undertaken by men who would not retreat. John Mark is mentioned in Paul’s letters as important to his ministry, so possibly Barnabas was able to encourage John Mark to grow in the Lord, and Paul was able to reconcile any differences. Resolve to encourage others to grow in Christ.
Are you a hospitable person who loves God? The Apostle Paul was the epitome of missionary work and established many congregations. His usual approach to spreading the Gospel was to first visit a Synagogue and boldly proclaim Christ to the Jewish people there. When he went to Philippi, this habit had to change. Philippi was a Gentile city, and there weren’t enough Jewish men there to establish a Synagogue. Those who believed in God would meet by the river.
“And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither” (Acts 16:13).
Were there Jewish men by the river? Maybe, but Paul sat by the women; the worship there was informal. “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul” (Acts 16:14).
Lydia must have been a “progressive” woman. She made her living selling purple cloth, which was expensive. I was told one time that God doesn’t even know you exist until you’re baptized. What a misinformed statement that was. Belief in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection brings salvation, and baptism is symbolic of faith. Lydia was touched by Paul’s words, and the Lord opened her heart to the truth. After that, she was baptized and all of her household. Lydia’s example of faith affected her household, and she also invited Paul and those with him to stay at her home.
Maybe your resolution should be to offer hospitality to brothers and sisters in Christ. Lydia started immediately serving the Lord. Maybe you could open your home to a Bible study or prayer meetings. God will use you if you’re willing, but be sure you’re within Biblical ways. Don’t overstep your boundaries. It’s sometimes easy to think that there are no Christians around you. You might attend a worship service but never see those people anywhere except sitting in pews.
The prophet Elijah was a wonderful servant of God. He fought against the prophets of Baal and won. Well, God was behind the win, but Elijah willingly and sarcastically fought. He had no other prophet standing with him. Because Elijah spoke God’s words instead of twisting them and lying about what God said, the evil King Ahab and Queen Jezabel wanted to kill him.
Elijah thought he was the only one left who served God, and he had enough. He withdrew into a cave to have a pity party and pout. God spoke to him, but he wouldn’t listen. Then, God spoke quietly to Elijah, who finally heard God’s voice. God gave him directions about what he had to do, and said, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18).
So, Elijah wasn’t alone; he just hadn’t seen others who rejected the world and honored God. Is that true in your neighborhood? Does it seem as if you’re the only one who loves God Almighty? Chances are that others around you feel the same way. It might be a blessing to everybody if you hosted a potluck so everybody can get acquainted. It might be a good time to join with fellow believers and pray for your nation and other prayer needs in your community. God will use you if you stop withdrawing and let God open doors. Resolve to go through doors He will open for you.
Do you have a talent? Can you play a musical instrument or sing? Maybe you’re able to listen to people and help them talk out their sorrows or worries. I have a friend who loves to sing. Most of his life was spent singing secular songs in his living room. Twenty years ago, he and his wife came to know Jesus. Through a set of circumstances, one day he led the singing for a worship service. From then on, he realized he had a ministry. He gradually sang more and more, then purchased equipment specifically to sing for the Lord. This has led to singing in retirement homes and hospitals. The people who are confined there enjoy it so much.
I know another man who loves the Lord and has a talent for music and songwriting. He has written many songs praising God and recorded them on a CD. He doesn’t sell them for his own profit, but will give them to anybody who he feels needs the message in his songs.
Many songs of praise and worship are found throughout Scripture. Music can be used as a ministry and a blessing to the Lord. For instance, Moses sang a song of praise after God led Israel to safety. “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea” (Exodus 15:1).
The song continues for many more verses, all praising God. Need I mention Asaph and King David who wrote many, many songs which are collected in the Book of Psalms. Maybe your talent isn’t music but some other useful talent. Are you a strong reader? Use that for the Lord. You can read to an elderly person in a rest home. Do you have a powerful speaking voice? What if you publicly read Scripture?
When Nehemiah returned to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple after the Babylonian captivity ended, the priest Ezra understood the importance of knowing God’s word. “And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law” (Nehemiah 8:2-3).
Many Christians yearn for our nation (whichever nation you call home) to turn to God. Yet we aren’t willing to speak publicly for the Lord. We allow our voice to be censored and decline to pray publicly. Yet, we allow people who skew God’s word to influence our children and draw people (even pastors) away from truth. If you’re a bold speaker, put on the armor of God and resolve to make God’s word known publicly. Resolve to use your talents for God’s glory, and He will open doors for you.
There are many things that you can do to honor God with your good characteristics, such as leadership, organization, praying, and more. As we take a look at ourselves to try to better our life in the coming year, don’t forget that you have gifts from God, and He will use you if you allow it. Be sure that you include Bible study in your resolution. If you don’t study His word and understand what He says, then you may use your talents in the wrong way.
I hear many very bad interpretations of Scripture, and it saddens me when these wrong ideas are believed. For instance, I was talking with a friend who is a Christian, and she went on and on about people she knows who are very good people but don’t believe in Jesus. She knows they will go to Heaven because they are good people. She also knows people who are Jehovah’s Witnesses who only believe Jesus was a good man, not God incarnate, but she is sure they will also go to Heaven because they have faith. Faith in what? She is a good speaker but speaks error.
Bible study will correct errors in theology. She is also a good talker but leaves no room for listening. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:15-16).
Pray that God will show you how to serve Him, and then follow His lead.
Have you made any resolutions yet? It’s not too late to make ones that could be more important than losing weight but will influence eternity.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).