It is the start of the new year and perhaps you have made some resolutions. Many will have some plan for how they will improve their fitness, diet, home etc. It is good to make resolutions and determine to be different and all of these have some value, but have you made any resolutions concerning your spiritual life? Christians throughout history have understood that the main duty we have as Christians is to become more like Jesus. John Calvin quotes Romans 12:
“The duty of believers is ‘to present their bodies to God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to him’”
Jonathan Edwards was known for making resolutions and constantly reviewing how he was doing that he might strive to be more like Christ.
On Sunday evening we considered Psalm 1. This Psalm explains what a life lived like Jesus looks like. Jesus is the one the Psalms speaks of; he is the blessed man of the Psalm. He was the one that always said no to sin. He is the only one to ever live to love God’s word as we ought. He is the one that has life and countless others are blessed by the fruit of his perfect life.
However, we should also be quick to recognise that we do not live in this way. We don’t flee sin, we don’t love the Bible as we should. But because Jesus lived this life and as we trust in his death for us, we now have life and the ability to change. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and by God’s grace we can begin to live as we should. Why not make some resolutions for this year? Ones that will help you to become more like Jesus and ask God for grace and help to grow.