I can’t keep them.

Wow, that was easy!  Now, what do I do with the rest of the article?

It’s true; I can’t keep them.  I never could figure out resolutions anyway.  If you could keep them, you wouldn’t need them.  Your self-discipline would help you to order your life and ensure that you do the right things daily.

Resolutions are really promises that you hope to keep.  Promises, however, can be difficult if circumstances change.  I promise that I will love and honor you forever. Then she (or he) gets fat, or worse, begins to treat you horribly. They don’t understand you, but, strangely enough, the co-worker does.  And he (or she) smells better, or looks better, and you can imagine what life would be like with them.

The Bible puts heavy duty responsibility on promises, especially promises to God.  Failing to keep your promise to God brings a curse.  Bad things will happen to you.  So, just don’t promise, right?  But then you might be accused of being apathetic.

A resolution usually involves a life-changing decision, like losing weight, don’t bite your nails, don’t waste so much time playing computer games or watching TV.  The list is endless.

New Years resolutions fail for two reasons.

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Matthew 3:15  Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.

John was confused.  Why did his soon-to-be-famous cousin feel the need to be baptized?  John had a special connection with Jesus as far back as he could remember, even getting excited to learn that Jesus was in the womb next to him.  At some point he learned that it was his mission to announce the coming of the perfect Lamb of God.

John prepared the people by performing a type of Mikvah, a Jewish ritual of symbolically cleansing from sin.  They were to cast off (or repent of) the unclean things that soiled them, so that they would be ready to meet God’s one and only son, their own King of Kings.  Now he was here, standing before John, asking to be baptized.

Even though John was a confirmed Nazarite (no drinking, no haircuts, etc), he failed to see why Jesus shouldn’t be baptizing him, not the other way round. The scholars tell us that Jesus planned the event in order to kick off his ministry (dove comes down, God speaking).  They also say that this was a way for Jesus to identify with the human condition, feeling the burden of sin, yet sinless in himself.

Church leaders tell us that Jesus’ baptism was set as an example for us, that we might follow in the practice, as we do with Communion, or with healing (for our spirit-filled brethren).  From the beginning the church would struggle over reasons and modes, even splintering into cells formed on individual interpretation of scripture.

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On November 1st several of my neighbors deflated their over-sized Halloween figures, then inflated their over-sized Christmas figures.  Santa and manger songs popped up on the radio, and the shopping malls began to transform into winter wonderlands.  While thousands of turkeys wished it would be so easy to forget, we still managed to squeeze in another time-worn holiday.

Many of us relished our 4-day weekend, but Thanksgiving came and went all too fast.  I always enjoy seeing my daughters, son-in-laws, and grandsons.  I missed seeing a close friend of mine who was away at his sisters this year, but I delighted in being with a Russian girl that my daughter is caring for.  We only had three carnivores at a table set for nine, so a partial bird was prepared.  I prayed over the meal, actually giving thanks for taste buds.  That’s why we gathered, right?

The food was delicious, as expected, right down to the marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes that had set the oven on fire a little earlier.  I didn’t fall asleep after the meal, which was a miracle, and I made a conscious effort to engage everyone in the room.  Another daughter, son-in-law and grandson joined us for desert, having shared their meal with other relatives. I truly was, and am, thankful for those that are in my life.

The Bible says to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18)  It’s easy to give thanks when things are going well, but how do you give thanks when life is, well, lifeless?  I remember in several previous Thanksgiving prayers preaching (how many prayers have you heard that are nothing more than sermons?) that we shouldn’t relegate giving thanks to just one day of the year, that we should always be thankful.

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I was listening to a radio preacher the other day, and she seemed to be trying to explain things that were accomplished  and completed in the name of the Lord, while admitting that those same things must still be dealt with.

She said that Satan was defeated at the cross, but doesn’t know it yet. Really?  I thought defeated meant that he had no more power, was no longer a threat.  The message from pulpits across the country is that we still struggle against “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” It sounds more like Satan will be defeated, but doesn’t believe it yet.

She went on to say that our sins were nailed to the cross, but she admitted that we still struggle with them.  I suppose she was referring to the teaching that the cross (the finished work of Christ) provided complete forgiveness for our sins, even though we still sin.

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But he [Christ] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

II Corinthians 12:9

The Apostle Paul was referring to his thorn in the flesh, yet not identifying just what it was. It seemed to be some physical or mental deficiency that annoyed him. Having asked God to remove it on three occasions, he was now ready not only to accept it, but to embrace it. However, in the same passage he reports that someone (very likely himself) received a great revelation and was caught up to paradise.

Strength in weakness is a paradox in which one must be accepted in order to gain the other. The natural tendency, though, is to regard weakness as a negative. We’re taught that only the strong survive, only the aggressive make it in this world, and “do unto others before they do it unto you.” 

To be sure, who would naturally welcome insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties, as listed in verse 10? If we are truly honest, we must admit that weakness is the natural condition for insecurity, sadness, depression and a troubled spirit. So what does the verse mean?

It may very well be a dramatic antithesis for pride, which boasts of strength, accomplishments, beauty and position in life. It’s less of wallowing in weakness, but rather recognizing that our focus is directed to the One who gives us strength. We must realize that all that we have can be taken away from us at any moment. We see it every day. Life itself is fleeting. My 61-year-old body can hardly keep up with my 20-year-old mind.

If we are founded in the fact that God is our strength, then we understand that any supposed weakness, by the world’s standards, is used by Him to sanctify us. It is also used to draw our attention to Him and to keep our pride at bay. Our lives consist of constant reassessments of who we are and why we are here. As our relationship with our Creator grows deeper, we are less likely to dwell on the meaning of life. We simply live it. His grace is sufficient.

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 16:27

I’m not so sure any more when this event will happen. It sounds like an official closing out of history, with Jesus sorting everything out and judging those of us who are still standing on That Day.

I’m less concerned about the when and where as I am about the what. What kind of reward will it be? What do I have to do to get one? What happens to me if I don’t merit a reward? Why are most Christians down on works, when this certainly seems like the basis on which we get the rewards?

What I can get from the verse, however, is that he wants us to be found doing good. His Spirit (Christ/God) within us reminds us daily what is good and what we can personally do about it. This is called obedience. God doesn’t want a disobedient child. Nor does he want an apathetic child. He wants an active child, who goes about doing his Father’s business.

It seems to me that the active Christian life consists of three things. First, we must have an open line to God. Along with brief “Thank You’s” and “Help Me’s” throughout the day, we should consciously plan a quiet time to be with Him and to share whatever is laid upon our heart. If there is nothing to share, then we should just listen. His Spirit will pray for us.

Secondly, we should obey. God is constantly telling us what we should embrace and what we should avoid. We must always be aware that Pride is the greatest enemy of perfect obedience.

Overall, we must love. We are to look upon creation as He sees it. What he has made is very good, even though it is often tainted with evil. He plans the redemption of everything. We must help Him in this work. That’s what obedient children do.

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 14:23

What a wonderful teaching! What an amazing arrangement! We simply do what he tells us, and we have complete fellowship with the God of the universe. The teacher is Jesus. His teacher is God. We are the student-children that he has created.

As I see it, there are at least two areas of teaching that we should address. One is the instruction that we receive from the Bible. While the teachings of Christ in the Gospels are of primary importance, we must also glean spiritual truths from both the Old Testament writings, as well as the New Testament letters. Even though much of scripture is clouded by human manipulation, we can still dig out gems of truth from the human experience.

Secondly, we must listen to the voice within us — and follow. God begins with the simple instructions, like “sweep the floor” or “give a hug.” As we become more comfortable with these brief commands, he adds greater truths and broader revelations. Jesus said, “To him who has, will be given more.”

As easy as it sounds, it is certainly not free from obstacles. Like our pride. Or our enemy, the Devil. We may often be swallowed up in confusion, rather than having clear direction. When this comes, and it will, we must do as Peter did, who wanted to walk on water, but began to sink. We must not take our eyes off of Jesus. Instead, we should reach out, and take his hand.

Listen to his voice. Do what he says. Experience the joy of obedience. Only then can we be at home with the Father.

You know, I get a lot of ideas for my blogs from just driving around in my city and reading church signs. I think about the way they might mean it; then I cogitate on other possible meanings or applications. Before long my mind is racing, checking Bible verses and developing a theme. Quite interesting, actually. Like this one.

I’m still pondering over how much Satan (or his minions) is directly involved in our lives. Just as I feel that the hand of God is on me most days, there are those few days that it seems that an evil force is at work. What is more obvious to me is how the current condition of my heart influences the work of good or evil in my being.

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God gave ten to Moses.  Jesus told a lawyer that there were two.  So who’s right?  And why do we have to follow any of them anyway since we’re born again believers in Christ?   Even the word “command” is an imperative.  It says forcefully, “You have to do it (or not do it) — OR ELSE!  In our modern-day, sensitivity-focused society, commands are still often required to get the job done, be it the military or the workplace.

Aside from our daily dose of functional commands, God’s commands are centered on our relationships.  Jesus takes God’s ten and sums them up into two categories:  Love God; and love your neighbor

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Love and Death make us all children — Can old age be an evil thing, which does the same?

George MacDonald

Childhood is among the most precious gifts that God has given us. It is a period of trust, a time of experiencing and exploring new things, and a sense of security without even realizing it. In Western society the children grow up too quickly. With constant exposure to television and adult drama played out in the home, children begin to imitate, to mimic adult behavior, whether it be good or bad.

Before long the child begins to desire those privileges and responsibilities that only an adult can “enjoy.” Oh, to remain a child for a bit longer! One of the most amazing abilities of the human mind is to remain young and healthy while abiding in frail or broken bodies. While asleep, the crippled dream of walking, the blind dream of seeing, and the elderly dream of bygone days of youth.

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