Well time has gotten away from me (again!) and the aim to
be more intentional with my postings has obviously fallen to the wayside...
Let's jump back in though! If you missed
it I wrote a while back that one of my
resolutions this year was to read and explain my interpretations of Johnathan
Edwards "Resolutions." We covered #1 so let's see if we can get
a few more knocked out...
2. "Resolved,
to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to
promote the forementioned things."
As a reminder Resolution #1 stated "Resolved that I will do whatsoever
I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the
whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether no, or
never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to
be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.
Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how
great soever."
So if #2 ties back to #1 Edwards is stating that as he lives he
will seek to find new ways to bring God glory, enjoy Him and the life He gives
for however long that life is, not considering the effort of time it will take
to do such things; to do "[his] duty" and work for the good of those
around him and the world no matter what difficulties, big or small, come his way.
We went through a lot of scripture last time to see places I saw Edward's
first resolution come to life and those carry over obviously into the second.
Here we see how he desires to grow continually and not just settle on the
past convictions and learning, but to aim at maturity and sanctification in his
lifelong walk with Christ
- “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2
- “For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” – Hebrews 10:14
- “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20
- “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:18
Our lives are continually being changed to be more like Christ; sanctification of us and glorification of Him are our aims as long as we have breath!
This next one may be in my top favorites...
3. "Resolved, if ever I shall
fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of
these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself
again."
Repentance...a constant reminder of how I fall
short everyday of what the calling on my ransomed life requires and how
gracious God is to not throw in the towel and give up on me altogether!
- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
- “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:6
- “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…” – Acts 3:19
Seriously, the longer I live the more I know how
far I am from Christ's perfection and the more I seek to have a repentant
heart. I wish this whole sanctification thing would have happened
overnight sometimes, but in moments of true reflection I see how gracious He is
to show me His unending patience in correcting and forgiving my failures to
trust and seek Him in all areas of my life, to love Him and His creation as
fully as I am fully loved by Him!!!
Here comes some more conviction if you haven't
felt it already...
4. Resolved, never
to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what
tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
Have you ever felt you have wasted time?
Has it ever just melted your heart to think there was some productive
thing God could have used you for in that time. I think this is a daily
struggle for me...wasting time. I suffer from extreme exhaustion a lot of the
time which then manifests itself in laziness. Watching TV and movies instead
of calling a friend and sharing life, or reading God's word or books that teach
me more about God's word...I make excuses for the habits because of brokenness
in my body and health that leave me, as I said, exhausted and lacking focus.
But God did not make some great mistake in organizing my cells the way He
did! He grafted in me no error that keeps me from walking in a manner
worthy of His name! And so going back to #2, I will seek to repent when I
put my entertainment and slothfulness above God (please understand rest is good
and commanded and necessary for us...keep resting in God and in the spaces He
has created for you to do so!).
- “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” – Ephesians 4:1
- “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” – 2 Peter 1:3
- “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33
- “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light.” – Colossians 1:9-12
I hope this leaves you more encouraged to know
God is good to walk you through times of stumbling and falling! We aim to
live lives glorifying Him and joyfully in all things, but we also recognize we
are walking in a broken world with our sinful flesh not fully sanctified
yet...remember He is faithful and kind patient to forgive and make us new; how
amazing and gracious!!! We do not sit in condemnation and shame but
rather repent, turn to Him and away from sin, then walk forward in a manner
worthy of the Gospel that gives us eternal Hope and joy!!! We learn and grow and accept forgiveness in light of His glory!
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