Being New Year’s Day and all, I thought instead of making a New Year’s resolution today I would just resolve to do what we are called to do but with more purpose and drive! So many of my past NY resolutions  consisted of fleeting goals and ideals. Things that would fade after a month or two such as eat less chocolate…watch less tv…lose weight… Goals that were small enough to achieve with not too much effort, yet wouldn’t make a huge difference in my life or the life of others. This year I am determined to aim higher. I am asking God to help me walk closer to Christ, become more like Christ and do what Christ has called me to do, the same things He has called all of His followers to do…. None of this can be done without the power of the Spirit of God. Trying to do so would be futile. It would only frustrate me. I am incapable in the flesh, of achieving what God wants to do in me and through me.

Thankfully, God has provided the Holy Spirit to do the work as we yield our will to Him. So this year I desire to to yield more, submit more, seek more and serve more. Not in my own strength but by spending time with my teacher (Jesus) and learning (through His Word) of His ways. In the book of Luke Jesus tells us, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40  I want to be more like my teacher! This in itself is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit. When we read Luke 6 verses 27 to 38 we are faced with teachings that are impossible to obey in the flesh!

²⁷ “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.²⁹ To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. ³¹ And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.³² “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. ³⁶ Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. ³⁷ “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”  

Let’s face it, sometimes it is difficult to love and forgive those whom we love let alone those who curse us or spitefully use us. Yet Jesus tells us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for those who spitefully use us! He goes on to tell us to be merciful and not judge…. But how????

This can only be achieved by yielding our will and heart to the ONE who willingly loved us while we were an enemy of the cross. He did good for us while we hated Him! Our teacher  paved the way by willingly laying down His life for us while we were sinners! He reached out to us while we were still in our sin and extended mercy and grace to us! When we were worthy of condemnation He forgave us! He is not asking us to do what He was unwilling to do. He did that and so much more by offering His sin free body up as a human sacrifice to save us from our sins!

When we begin to grasp the true depth of His love for us, which is revealed through the Holy Spirit, we are able to yield our will to follow Jesus our teacher. A teacher  that is unlike any other. A teacher who offers us new mercies every morning. A teacher who will NEVER leave us or forsake us. A teacher who is closer than a brother. A teacher who will one day soon come back to take us HOME.

So in 2015, I resolve to be a student worthy of my calling. I resolve to spend more time with my teacher. I resolve to spend more time studying His Word. I resolve to obey His teachings and to serve Him with abandon.

If this is the desire of your heart, pray along with me;

Lord, we pray that in the coming year those who call themselves followers of Christ, will seek You daily, study Your Word, obey Your teachings and be Your hands and feet to a world desperate for YOU! Give us the desire to be all we can be. Keep us from becoming spiritually lazy and complacent. When we forget, remind us of Your imminent return and that there is work to be done until then. Jesus, we ask it all in Your precious name, Amen.

Philipians 3:14  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.