Resolutions

According to the recent Forbes Health/OnePoll survey, "the average New Year's Resolution lasts just 3.74 months.  Only 8% of respondents tend to stick with their goals for one month, while 22% last two months, 22% last three months and 13% last four months." 

As for me and my resolution to keep a daily journal of everything I eat, I lasted only a week. How about you? Did you make any New Year's resolutions? Are you still keeping them? If you are, you are in above average and this week is the cut off. 

A young Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) took note of his weaknesses and desperate attempts to overcome sin, and resolved to live his life by certain priorities and principles that would focus his effort to do all for the glory of God. He wrote this as his preamble: 

"Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ’s sake."

Can you imagine writing this and then seventy resolutions to live by as a teenage college student? What profound words. 

First, "I am unable to do anything without God's help."  Jesus says in John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." Whether you are a young adult or an older adult, we need to stay connected to Jesus Christ, the vine, at all times, to do anything.

Second, "by His grace..." The Apostle Paul says in II Corinthians 12:9, "But he (God) said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Trusting in His strength helps us overcome and accomplish things we thought we could never do on our own.

Lastly, "...to His will, for Christ's sake." Doing all things for the glory of God. This is good to take an inventory of our life and ask the tough question, why am I doing this and is it bringing glory to Jesus Christ?

We might be on the hump when it comes to our New Year's resolutions but our life is so much more important than eating better and less time on social media. We are beacons of life, hope, and love for the world to see: Everything we do should tie our lives back to and for the glory of Jesus.

I am so thankful for a nineteen-year-old Edwards leading the way for us in seventy ways to live for Jesus. Sadly, he only lived 54 years on this earth but he was quite an influence on the people around him and the next generation. My prayer is that we do the same.  

Thanks so much for your ongoing love, prayers, and support for Greater Philadelphia Collegiate Campus Ministry. We started the spring semester with a bang and look forward to all that God is going to do in 2024.