Introduction

Greetings, dear friends. It is wonderful to gather together in the spirit of unity and love to delve into the rich treasure trove of God's Word. We are about to embark on a transformative exploration of Luke 2:22-40, a passage that will call us to reframe our resolutions as intentions, to prioritize relationships over results, and to recommit to a deeper devotion.

As we stand at the cusp of a new year, we might find ourselves caught in the whirlwind of resolutions. The world tells us to make grand plans, to set ambitious goals, to strive for more. But what if we took a different approach? What if we, like the faithful characters in our Scripture passage today, focused less on the results and more on the relationships? What if we, instead of making one-time resolutions, made ongoing intentions to grow closer to God and to each other?

The great Christian author, J.I. Packer once said, "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." Isn't that a profound thought? Could it be that our greatest resolution, our most meaningful intention, is simply to know God more?

Let's read together from Luke 2:22-40.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for this opportunity to gather together and study Your Word. As we reflect on this passage, we ask for Your guidance. Help us to see the beauty of relationships over results, of intentions over resolutions. May our hearts be open to Your transformative love, and may we be drawn closer to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Reframing Resolutions as Intentions

As we turn the pages of our calendars to a new year, we often find ourselves caught in a flurry of goal-setting. We're encouraged to make big plans, to aim high, to strive for more. But what if we took a different approach? What if we shifted our focus from the end result to the ongoing process? What if we set intentions instead of resolutions? For we know that resolutions are based on behavior and outcome, but intentions are a way of being.

Setting an intention is like setting a compass. It's about choosing the direction we want to go, but not getting too attached to the exact path we'll take to get there. It's about being open to detours, to unexpected opportunities, to the twists and turns that life inevitably throws our way. We need to be flexible and adaptable, willing to learn and grow along the way.

We're setting a direction for our hearts and minds. We're choosing what we want to focus on, what we want to prioritize, what we want to cultivate in our lives. And that's a powerful thing. Because where our attention goes, our energy flows. When we set an intention, we're not just deciding what we want to do. We're deciding who we want to be.

In our Scripture passage today, we see this idea of intentionality in action. Joseph and Mary didn't just follow the letter of the law. They followed the spirit of the law. They didn't just do what was required. They did what was meaningful. They didn't just go through the motions. They set an intention to present Jesus to the Lord, and they followed through with that intention in a way that was heartfelt and sincere.

We also see this idea of intentionality in the actions of Simeon and Anna. They didn't just wait for the Messiah. They actively looked for Him and set an intention to recognize the Messiah when He came. They followed through with that intention in a way that was active and engaged.

When we set intentions instead of resolutions, we're setting a direction for our lives. We're choosing what we want to focus on, what we want to prioritize, what we want to cultivate in our lives. And that's a powerful thing. Because where our attention goes, our energy flows. When we set an intention, we're not just deciding what we want to do. We're deciding who we want to be.

Transition. So as we stand at the cusp of a new year, let's not just make resolutions. Let's set intentions. Let's not just decide what we want to do. Let's decide who we want to be. Let's not just aim for results. Let's aim for relationships. Let's not just strive for more. Let's strive for meaning. Let's not just go through the motions.

Relationships over Results

In the passage we just read, we see a beautiful illustration of the value of relationships over results ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO