Ringing in the New
By Rev. Dan Mahan
Col 3:9-10 “You have taken off the old self with it practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge and in the image of its Creator.”
It’s time to make New Year resolutions. Have you made yours yet? Last New Years I made 6 resolutions and I am proud to say that I kept them all year long. I kept them in an envelope in the top drawer of my desk!
Most of us will end up breaking any New Year Resolutions we make. We feel bad about breaking them, but it is not easy to keep resolutions, is it? It takes effort, sacrifice and determination to keep these resolutions. Webster’s Dictionary defines “resolution” as a firm decision. It is a strong commitment to a course of action.
I have found 10 New Years Resolutions that I think we can all keep.
1. Gain weight, at least 30 pounds.
2. Stop exercising. It’s a waste of time.
3. Read less. It makes you think.
4. Stop cooking. You should eat out more.
5. Get more credit cards.
6. Break at least one traffic law.
7. Focus on the faults of others.
8. Sleep in every chance you get.
9. Go on a chocolate-only diet
10. Never make New Year’s resolutions again.
This week, people will be making resolutions of changes they wish to make for the New Year. Some of the most common are to get out of debt and to quit smoking. A young man was at a New Year’s party. He asks his friend for a cigarette. The friend replied “I thought you made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking,” The young man answered ’I’m in the process of quitting, Right now, I am in the middle of phase one.” “What’s phase one?” his friend asked. The young man replied. “I’ve quit buying.”
Another common resolution is to lose weight. It is not easy to stick to a diet, is it? Daniel knew about eating healthy and about diets (not THIS Daniel, obviously!). Daniel knew how hard it is to stick to a diet. We say “I’M going to stick to this diet if it kills me” For Daniel and his friends, death was indeed a possibility. The first “Vegi-Tale” story is found in the first chapter of Daniel. Daniel is a great example of what it means to make a resolution and stick to it.
Daniel’s people were taken to a foreign country. The king was determined to teach the Israelites to dress, eat, & live like the Babylonians. He was determined they would follow all the religious customs of the Babylonians. The king began by selecting the best and brightest of the young Jewish men to be trained in the Babylonian ways. His reasoning was that if these select few were converted to Babylonian ways, the rest of the Israelites would follow suit.
But Daniel makes a resolution. In Daniel 1:8, we read: “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the Royal food and wine.” Daniel asked that he and his friends be tested for 10 days. After ten days of eating their diet of veggies and water, they would be compared with the others who ate the king’s royal food to see who was the healthier and better nourished of the two groups. Daniel and his friends—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego- made a resolution that would better themselves.
This week, many will be making new resolutions for this year. These resolutions may involve healthy choices. They may include financial changes, promises to study more, or to spend more time with parents or children. They may include less complaining-the purpose of our whining bracelets. These resolutions may be resolutions of ways to improve our health, lifestyle or ways to better ourselves. I believe any resolution we make that will better ourselves, any resolutions that will make us a better person-pleases God!
Sadly, too often while making resolutions we remember only the physical. We forget those resolutions that will make us a better person spiritually. Will these resolutions include decisions to attend church more regularly, to begin attending Sunday School or get involved in a Bible study? Will there be resolutions to start a daily quiet time, to pray more, to tithe or to serve the Lord more? Will your resolutions this year include ways to learn more about Christ and to draw nearer to Him? Any resolution we make that improves our relationship with God, greatly pleases the Lord.
For Daniel and his friends their resolutions was more than a health issue or a choice to eat healthy food. To adapt to the Babylonian ways would be compromising their beliefs. They knew this would affect their relationship with God. God was pleased with Daniel’s determination to stick by his resolution. The Scriptures tell us that God blessed Daniel and his friends. Not only were they healthier and better nourished than the other young men that ate the king’s royal food, but God also blessed them with knowledge and understanding. The king questioned these young men and found them to be ten times better in wisdom and understanding than his top advisers.
Does God care about the resolutions you make this New Year? Yes! Does God care if you keep your resolutions or not? Yes! If there is an area in your life that is destroying your health, affecting your family negatively, or destroying your witness, God’s desire is that you resolve to a change for the better. Is there is an area in your life that is affecting your relationship to God? Make a resolution, a firm decision, a strong commitment to a course of action for improvement. But don’t just make a resolution for the coming year. Resolve to it for life. You say, “But Bro. Dan, I tried and I just can’t do it.” “I tried, but I give up…”“I can’t forgive him” “I can’t get my finances straightened up.” “I can’t quit this bad habit.” “I can’t’ .I can’t, I can’t… “
But God says, “You’re right you can’t, but I can, if you will just lean on me for strength.”
Where did Daniel get the power and the strength to stand up to his resolution and to be resolved for life? Daniel didn’t’ tackle the problem alone. He got strength from his friends and he drew strength from the Lord. In Chapter 6 of Daniel, we read that Daniel had developed a habit of prayer. He spend daily time with the Lord. Where do we get our strength to stand up to our resolutions and to be resolved for life? We gain strength from one another and from the Lord. We gain strength through prayer. Philippians 4:13 reads: “I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Does that include lose weight? Yes. Does that include quitting ugly habits? Yes. Does it include those things that affect our witness, like complaining and an unforgiving heart? Yes! Christ’s desire is to change your life for the better.
Notice what Paul says in today’s text “Take off the old self and its practices……..and put on the new”. That sounds like a good New Year’s Resolution text, doesn’t it? It sounds like what we desire to do when we make new year resolutions-taking off the old ugly practices and putting on new better ones. Paul is speaking about more than just ugly habits, though. Paul is speaking of a sacrifice. Listen Folks: Paul is saying that being a Christian is more than just making good resolutions. It means more than just having good intentions. It means taking the right actions. Your conduct should match your faith. That means a constant renewing, revowing and resolving. Why? Paul says so you will become more like Christ-“being renewed in the image of your Creator” .
Sadly, many Christians accept Christ and never get much into the “taking off the old self and putting on new self” part. They never get much into the “sacrifice” part” either. Many of us neglect the renewing and resolving that it takes daily to become more and more like Christ.
There is an old hymn that reads :” I am resolved to follow the Savior, faithful And true EACH DAY. Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth, He is the living way.” And the last verse goes like this: “I am resolved and who will go with me? Come friends without delay. Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit, we’ll walk the Heav’nly way.”.
“You have taken off the old self with it practices and have put on the new.”
Prayer
Invitation: In today’s text, Paul writes about giving up the old self and putting on the new. Paul knew first hand about the change Jesus can make in a person’s life. Saul of Tarsus had once persecuted and killed Christians, but after his encounter with God on the road to Damascus, Saul (now known as Paul) began to spread the Gospel, the very thing He had tried to eliminate. God totally turned Paul’s life around. Paul was now 100% resolved to live for Christ and to serve Him. Talk about a change. Paul knew first hand how God’s power could change a man’s heart.
There is no habit too big. There is no sin too great. Jesus is in the business of making things new. That is why He came to earth. What He did it for Paul, He wants to do for you.
2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old has gone. The new has come.”
Is there is an ugly habit you need strength to break? Is there an area in your life that is not pleasing to God, an area that is affecting your relationship to God or relationship to others, turn it over to Him today. Resolve for a change for the better. Ask Christ for strength to stand by your resolution.
If you are not a Christian and you do not know the life-changing power of Jesus Christ, do not leave this place today without accepting Him as your Lord and Savior.
Come today, as we stand and sing
