As we come to the end of 2013, many start to think of what resolutions they want to carry out or attempt for the “new” year. Elsewhere I have written why I don’t believe in resolutions, but if there is a resolution for me, it is found in Joshua:
“Only carefully obey the command and instruction that Moses the Lords servant gave you: to love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, keep His commands, remain faithful to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.” – Joshua 22:5
Breaking down the verse there are several resolutions. All of them are centered upon obedience to the Lord. These “resolutions” or determinations call us to be careful or diligent in obeying God’s instructions as given in the Bible. This could over whelm some people since we know there are many commands to keep but this verse simplifies things.
1. Love God: “love the Lord your God.”
Jesus said all the commands of God can be summarized in loving God and loving others. If we love God we will do the second command as well. We often associate love for God with obedience which is accurate but this verse doesn’t mention it until the end. Notice that love for God is to give all of our affections to Him first. He should be our priority, our ultimate priority to love. Everything else springs from there.
2. Pattern Your Life After His Lifestyle: “walk in all his ways.”
It may seen vague but our lifestyle, the way we comport ourselves should match what we believe about God. Asynchronous life-style is hypocrisy. We cannot pick and choose what we want to and what we don’t want to believe. Our lifestyle should reflect “God’s ethics.” Walking in His ways involves living our life for God every moment and every day of our lives. Only when we walk in all of his ways do we become a living testimony for God unto others.
3. Obey His Commands: “keep his commands.”
The two over arching commands are to love God and love others but there are many specific commands given to us, especially in the New Testament. We are told to obey them because our lifestyle needs to conform to God’s standards. God’s standards (God’s “world-view” as seen in His Word, The Bible) bring life, love, joy, peace and keep us from death and destruction (see John 6:63, Psalm 19:7-8).
4. Be Faithful to Him: “remain faithful to him.”
Being faithful to God is a daily decision. Every day we are faced with decisions, big and small, yet these need to reflect our desire and resolution to remain faithful to God. In our modern society, this is a difficult task due to the many distractions and constant push from the culture to conform to its standards. Our goal should be to remain faithful to the Lord, day by day, every day.
5. Serve Him Whole Heartily – “and serve Him with all your heart and soul.”
Only when we love God, pattern our life after His, obey Him and are faithful, can our life be of service to Him. Again, notice we serve Him. We serve others but it is an act of service to God. We are not humanitarian because we are so good in of ourselves. We serve God where ever we are; we are an extension of God. We are his workmanship (his poem, master piece) in Christ for good works (Ephesians 2:10). Our service to God is not mediocre, it involves all of our heart and soul.
As we welcome 2014, let’s us keep these things in mind and make them our life-long resolutions.
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