Are you keeping your Resolutions?

***This entry was on January 2009***

Dear Reader,

“What’s your New Year’s resolution?”

The question echoes in our ears from the blaring media in our lives. Commercials, billboards, even churches call us to be different in the New Year. It implies that we’ve all made some major mistakes in the last year and now we have a chance to make ourselves whole again.

And, for just $19.95 you can buy your way to resolution success! Advertising firms got it right; they have tapped into the guilty nature of humans in order to persuade them to purchase their goods. The truth is we have made major mistakes in the last year but no amount of money or possessions can cure our culpability.

But what is a resolution? The root of resolution is resolute, which can be defined as firm or determined in purpose or belief. I can’t help but picture Jesus’ life when I read those words. But can you imagine if Jesus lived as we live our lives? What if Jesus lived 33 years of His life, preaching, healing, and loving, but when He found out how hard the crucifixion would be He second guessed his mission of becoming the Savior of the world? Or worse yet, He went through with it, but only half heartedly. Jesus completed His mission with whole-hearted conviction and resolution to fulfill the promises of God. Stand firm! Set yourselves in the same purpose of Jesus! As you follow Jesus, He will sanctify you and make you more like himself – resolute!

Remember Romans 3: 22-24 – This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Instead of trying to fix ourselves this New Year with empty resolutions, we should look to the perfect example of the word resolute. So, I call you all to turn off the world, open up the Bible and find your true resolution success. And the best part is that Jesus is not a limited time offer, nor does He cost $19.95. May we all find a new commitment to our Great Savior, Jesus Christ. He makes New Year’s Day an everyday reality.

~Sara Costalas