Walking Firmly Before The Lord

"Commit your way to the LORD, trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn" (Psalm 37:5-6).

A New Year has dawned, maybe you are one of those who makes New Year resolsutions. It is good to reflect on the past year, not dwell there, reflect. How has God worked in your life?  What things has He done that you cand attribute to Him? Look where most don't look, at the small things, where without His intervention made the difference. Don't just look at your own life, look at how God has worked in the lives of others. Our God is good! He is faithful to keep His promises. All promises towards us come with conditions. We must be willing to commit. To commit, a word from from the Latin mitere = sent is to be sent, co-mmit is to agree to be sent. The first step in making a resolution is then to reflect then decide what needs to be changed in your life; so important you are willing to commit. Become resolved, be resolute, be faithful to that which you have committed.  Jesus is our example for when the time came near for His mission to be completed He set His face towards Jerusalem knowing that death was awaiting Him. He didn't make a New Year's resolution, He knew the will of God and was faithful, committed to His Father's purpose for Him. 

Resolve to get to know our Savior, take the necessary steps to deeply come to know Him. Be committed to a study of the Bible. It is not what we can get from Him which many resolutions are, and it is not what we can do for Him, for He needs nothing from us. Make this year a new beginning to get to know the One who was so committed to us because He loves us that nothing would deter Him from the cross. Fall in love with Him again; come to know the real Jesus.  Who is this Jesus? Do you really know Him? Has He become just a benevolent provider? Is our Jesus that one with a soulful look on His face, a bright light shining around His head, as so many paintings have pictured Him, this easy going, willing to do anything God for you? Our picture of Him will determine how resolved we will be to get to know Him.

Will the "Real" Jesus stand up! This man born into an obscure part of the world, changed the world as no other man has ever done. History is divided into two periods, before Christ, after Christ. More has been written about Him than any other person in history. Millions have put their faith and trust in Him even to the point of death. Because of Him and what He taught sciences developed, governments such as ours have changed to better the lives of their citizens, and personal lives have changed from lives of debauchery to being good husbands, faithful and productive. This man who only taught for three and one half years, who wrote nothing in His own hand, and was condemned and executed as a criminal is the reason for all of this.  Do you really know Him?  He made some very radical statements. His demands are hard to embrace.  He asks us to deny everything for Him, to give up all for Him, and on top of all that He says that we should eat of His flesh and drink of His blood and if we do we can have eternal life. This man who too often pictured as transcendent while here on earth so that his humanity is lost in the dust, the dust from the dirt roads He traveled. He was a man who at times was angered, He snapped at Peter, He shouted at Pharisees, He overturnd tables, even made the whips himself, and chased people from the temple. This is the real Jesus, human as any human ever was, yet God because He is the Son of God, born of a virgin, who also said, "I have come tht they may have life, and have it to the full, I am the good shepherd. the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:10b-11).

Do you want changes in the New Year? resolve to get to know the "real" Jesus. You find the study of Him to be exciting as you get to know Him. He chose the place, the time in history, and even His death, to bring to this world salvation and eternal life. Oh! He picked you too! Get to know the one who wants to spend eternity with you.

Daily Prayer:

Jesus, I want to know you.  I resolve to be faithful to you and to study to be approved a workman that needs not to be ashamed. Thank you for coming into this world, your love so great, help me to show that love so others will commit to knowing and accepting you, our Savior.  Thank you for choosing me.      Amen