“I Am Resolved…”
by Bryan Gibson
While we think about them around the New Year, resolutions need to be made any time that we recognize that our lives are not totally what they should be. Let’s look at some resolutions made by different Bible characters, and some resolutions we need to make as well.
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh. 24:15).
Everyone who is the head of a household needs to make this same resolution.
“The Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey” (Josh. 24:24).
According to Josh. 24:31, this particular generation of Israelites followed through with this resolution: “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua.”
“If You…will give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life” (1 Sam. 1:11).
In giving our children to the Lord, we’re really only returning them to the One who gave them to us. It’s not showing a whole lot of gratitude to be given a child by the Lord, and then refuse to bring that child up in the ways of the Lord.
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I, send me” (Isa. 6:8).
The Lord’s kingdom needs more workers with this kind of resolve. “Do you need someone to visit the sick? Here am I, send me.” “Do you need someone to teach that class? Here am I, send me.” “Do you need someone to invite people to the meeting? Here am I, send me.”
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls; Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation (Hab. 3:17-18).
Habakkuk had resolved that the lack of material things would not keep him from rejoicing in the Lord. Evidently, Habakkuk understood the principle that “our life does not consist in the abundance of the things we possess” (Luke 12:15), and that “we have a better and enduring possession in heaven” (Heb. 10:34).
“I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you” (Lk. 15:18).
Let us resolve, like the prodigal son, that whenever we do wrong, we will go to our Father in humility and openly confess our wrong. We will not try to hide it, or deny it, or explain it away. We will confess it.
“For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
How much are we ready to do in the name of the Lord Jesus? Are we committed enough that we would actually give our lives for Him?