Reflections and Resolutions

So I got to thinking about what to do in the awkward pause between xmas and new years, because you know what you’re talking about on the run up to Christmas, and the new year is a perfect time to start something, so what fits well in the middle here?

Well as is typical for me I totally rabbit trailed in our conversation and ended up questioning the tradition we have regarding New Year’s resolutions.

They’re a fickle thing, no? We like to make promises to ourselves about something, typically superficial, that we aren’t pleased with about ourselves and despite the momentary passion we display for this grand new turning point in our lives, we tend to break it by what, January 9th?

Come February we probably don’t even remember what it was, apart from maybe that we’ve made the same one for the last 14 years and at that point you kind of want to forget.

Gyms love it though, massive boost in membership sales without a single care for whether or not they’ll end up over capacity, lol.

Well now I guess you all got to experience that rabbit trail with me, but actually I think we’re on to something. The whole idea of these new year’s resolutions is that we’ve reflected on the last year and have identified an area where we’ve fallen short, thus needing to improve. The new year’s resolution is like the headline for the new course we want to set moving forward to fix this area in our lives.

As it turns out, this is a biblical idea, so long as we do this while focused on the right things. To begin looking into this I want to direct our attention to Exodus.

We’re all familiar with the Passover, yes?

The feast which is celebrated remembering how God delivered His people from Egypt, and ultimately serves as a model for Chist, as Paul mentions in 1 Cor:

1Co 5:7 NKJV - 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

What you may or may not remember regarding the Passover, is that it was ordained as the new year by God also, and when examining what God instructs them to do we can get an inclination as to what an appropriate New Year’s tradition should be.

Exo 12:2 NKJV - 2 "This month [shall be] your beginning of months; it [shall be] the first month of the year to you.

This is God as He begins to instruct them on the Passover. Further on in this passage we come across this instruction:

Exo 12:15 NKJV - 15 'Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

So we got a couple things here, The month of Passover is the beginning of months, so basically the new year, and on the first day of the celebration it is mandatory to completely purge your entire house of all leaven.

This was a literal command, which intended to convey and engrain in them a spiritual truth. They were not ignorant of the fact that leaven symbolized sin generally, and often pride specifically.

It is therefore customary in Jewish households that as they prepare and clean the home from literal leaven, they are required to reflect on their own sin and failings, and seek repentance. The idea is that they will clean the physical leaven from their physical home, and the spiritual leaven from their hearts.

Something I thought was really cool was one of the common ways this is made a game for the children to learn the spiritual lesson.

So the day prior, parents will hide little pieces of leaven throughout the house. The lights are all turned out, and the children have to search the house by candle light (or flash light often these days) to find the leaven.

They are taught that the leaven, like our sin, hides in the darkness of our minds and hearts and only by the power of God, by the Light of the world, can our sin be illuminated that we can see it and deal with it.

Once the leaven is found the children can’t touch it, but rather they call their father to come and sweep it up to teach their children we cannot become clean with any power of our own, rather we must call upon our Heavenly Father to remove our sin.

After all the leaven is found and swept up, it is gathered together and burned to symbolize the judgement of sin by fire, and when we’ve allowed God to remove the sin from us we are saved from that eternal judgement, and only the sin will be permanently destroyed.

Super cool tradition, and I share this with you to support the idea that it is good and Biblical even to begin the new year in reflection, repentance, and resolving to take the next step in right relationship with God.

Seeing as how Jesus has fulfilled the feasts, and they were meant to help us understand Him when He came, we need not wait until the new year to do these things.

The passage we read in 1 Cor a moment ago was Paul making the same point about the Passover symbolizing us being made clean to walk with Jesus, and was actually being used in the context of cleaning up the church, purging out an unrepentant person from the local Body.

So while these truths apply broadly and we don’t need to wait for a specific time, given that our culture has a tradition for the New Year, we can allow it to inform how WE should engage with this tradition.

I guess what I’m saying then, is if we want to make a meaningful New Year’s Resolution, our focus shouldn’t be our waist line, rather it needs to be on our relationship with Jesus.

As I was thinking about how to word this, I immediately visualized a cake and treadmill. Like a zombie the character in this thought, walking towards the treadmill, inevitably began veering off towards the cake instead.

What stuck was the idea that our own willpower, even for the strongest of us, will ultimately fail us at some point, especially with regards to our favorite sins. To make matters worse we have an enemy who studies us, knows where we’re weak, and seeks to exploit our weakness.

1Pe 5:8 NKJV - 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

We therefore cannot just try to live better lives and be successful in our own strength, rather we need to allow the power of the Holy Spirit to prevail in us if we are going to stay the course.

If you’re thinking to yourself then, well I’ve tried something like this before, and failed... well fist off I’m right there with ya; what I want to ask you is whether you believe the Holy Spirit will bend to your will, or does He solely obey the Will of God?

Sounds like a simple question, but what I’ve found is that (and I’m speaking of myself now) I’ve had the tendency to set what I believe is a noble goal, pray for success, and ultimately fail. Was it because my aim was bad? Not necessarily, it just wasn’t where GOD WAS AIMING!

Therefore, even my most noble intentions can fail if I’m not listening to God and allowing Him to lead. Do that, and no power in heaven, earth, or under the earth can prevail against the power of the Holy Spirit to achieve that goal, and finish the work.

Sounds easy, right? Of course not. I already admitted I THOUGH I was setting the right goals... so how do we gain clarity on WHAT directions to take?

The answer, often times, will be found in the reflection. Chances are if you’re sitting there banging your head against a brick wall wondering where to go next or why nothing’s working God’s already told a few times and you just missed it.

Might not just be that scenario, could be a season is passing and you’re wondering where to go next, in any case before taking the next step, or in the context of the week we’re in, before making a New Year’s resolution, we should take time to pause and consider what the LORD has done for us so far.

What things has He done in our lives recently, and when was the last time we heard from Him? What did He say?

We see great leaders in scripture doing this, and leading people to do the same. Joshua at the end of his life is one example.

If I had to wager, I’d bet at least half of us have the phrase “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” posted somewhere to decorate our homes. In my case, it’s my right hand monitor wallpaper.

But that phrase we love doesn’t exist in a vacuum, rather it’s at the latter part of a 2 chapter long speech Joshua gives at the end of his life before the leaders of Israel. Recall this people had always been lead in the earthly sense by either Moses or the servant of Moses, Joshua.

Now however, they’ll need to chart a path forward without this central leader and Joshua knowing this, likely at God’s prompting, pulls them together to lead them to reflect on God’s provision for Israel and His commandments for how they should live.

The start of Joshua 23 begins recording his address:

Jos 23:1-3 KJV - 1 And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old [and] stricken in age. 2 And Joshua called for all Israel, [and] for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old [and] stricken in age: 3 And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God [is] he that hath fought for you.

So Joshua begins by reminding them of their current situation, which is that they are now dwelling an a land that was conquered, by all accounts much mightier nations than Israel save that God willed their victory. He makes it clear that their current good fortune, and comfort, was fought for and won by God, for their sake.

Even yet there were more enemies still, and Joshua affirms God’s promise to them, and that God is faithful to keep His promises.

Jos 23:5 KJV - 5 And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.

Joshua is reminding them that regardless how mighty the enemy seems in front of you, none can stand before the might of the LORD and they need not lean on their own strength, but continue to walk with God and serve Him, and God will secure their victory.

Jos 23:6-8, 11 NKJV - 6 "Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 "[and] lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause [anyone] to swear [by them]; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, 8 "but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. ... 11 "Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.

Again emphasizing the critical importance of LOVING the God who loves them, and fights for them. Making sure to keep front and center God’s Word, remembering His faithfulness to them, actively turning away from the pantheon of false gods which vie for our attention, and serving YHWH alone.

This kind of attitude, coupled with regular meditation on the Goodness of God is consistent in the life of Joshua; no doubt the key to his success in life. As a young buck he was one of the spies who went into the land and came back with the response Randall talked about recently, “giants, phewy. You have any idea how big my God is?”

Then when his leadership career began, God came to him and instructed him saying:

Jos 1:7-8 NKJV - 7 "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Sounds familiar? Joshua always remembered what God had told him, and was passing the same instruction to the people at the end of his life. His success came by heeding God’s instructions, loving God and His Word.

The regular practice of meditating on the Word of the LORD and His faithfulness towards Joshua gave him the strength and wisdom to overcome every obstacle before them. He didn’t endeavor for his own glory, but to glorify God.

As Joshua continues to speak to the people, he goes further and does something else that I believe is good for us to do when we pause to reflect on what God has done for us.

It’s a practice which comes from an understanding that God is consistent, and eternally faithful to perform His Word, and His promises. Sometimes we can remember what He’s done for us most recently and be motivated, other times it’s helpful to zoom out further and realize that throughout our lives God has a pattern of showing up.

So Joshua goes from pointing out what God’s done for them recently, and rewinds all the way back to Abraham.

Jos 24:2-4 NKJV - 2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Your fathers, [including] Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods. 3 'Then I took your father Abraham from the other side of the River, led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac. 4 'To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

From here he’ll continue to recount their history, and every hurdle they faced which on their own would be insurmountable, yet all credit and glory to God that they were delivered mightily by His Hand, even showing mercy on them when they stumbled.

From Egypt through the Red Sea, through the wilderness, against the Amorites and the Moabites, against the tribes of and around Jericho, tumbling giants and delivering the spoils of the land to the Jews, God overcame time and again everything they were otherwise hopeless against.

All this reflection, remembering God’s mighty hand in their lives, protection, provision, comfort, and purpose; without fail establishing a pattern of faithfulness towards the ones He loves, Joshua draws the line for the people to choose.

Will they continue forward with the God who’s shown Himself worthy of praise? Or will they seek their own way?

Jos 24:14-15 NKJV - 14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! 15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

And to their credit, all who heard that day chose to serve the LORD.

This is where I want us to remember, and allow this example to sit with us. As we contemplate what God’s done in our lives, be it through increase, loss, blessing or trials in our own wilderness, we’ll get to the point where we have to choose our next steps, and the new year is as good a time as any.

Maybe today’s the first time you’ve been presented this opportunity for reflection, and been given the choice to make the one like Joshua gave the Jews, “choose you this day who you will serve.” Will it be the LORD God, Jesus? Or the gods of entertainment, gods of personal gratification, gods of pride, or gods of money...

There are surely no fewer gods all around us vying for our worship than those surrounding the people of Israel when Joshua gave this message. They might be packaged a little different but we have no lighter a decision to make.

Choose you this day... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!

If you’re wrestling with this choice I implore you to read all of Joshua 23 and 24. I skipped through it here today, but Joshua lays out the end of each choice and, spoiler alert, one has significantly better outcomes than the other...

And it is the same God who is with us here and beckons your heart to choose Him as was with Joshua then. In fact we can know Him even better, through His coming as our LORD Jesus.

For those of us who’ve made the decision before to serve God, how are we doing? How has the last month, year, decade been for us? Do we have the same fervor as we first did when we met Jesus?

I mentioned that those who heard that day, Joshua’s message, chose to serve God... but it wasn’t always so in Israel.

Jos 24:31 NKJV - 31 Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.

So those who had known God’s works continued to serve Him... but the next book is Judges.. .and if you remember anything about our timeline series this is where things go down hill fast.

In like manner, if you fail to take the time to reflect on God’s presence in your life, if you fail to keep that Word close to your heart and mind, if you turn your heart and begin to worship other gods, you too will falter and sit wondering why things aren’t working out like you believed they should.

Take then this time to remember, Jesus says in Revelation 2 to those who had gotten so busy doing church work that they lost sight of their love for God, of the relationship Jesus seeks to have with us:

Rev 2:5 NKJV - 5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

Do the first works, get back to the steps you once took to build that relationship in the first place, and rekindle that love for Jesus.

For all of us then, regardless of what our situation was when we showed up today, the next couple days I implore you to set some time aside and focus on God’s work in your life. Focus on the immediate past, but also throughout your life.

Even like Joshua did, taking them back before their time, dig into the Word and really meditate on what He, Jesus, did for us on that cross.

As you do, looking forward at 2025, ask Him what plans He has for you, and allow the unwavering faithfulness He’s demonstrated so far help inform your next steps.

Individually our calls will vary, but I guarantee a common thread will be God’s Holy Spirit pleading with each of us to grow closer to Him.

In fact, I bet if you listen, there’s something you’re holding on to that He’ll ask you to allow to let die that has been a wedge between you and Jesus.

If we then form our resolutions, If we can resolve, each of us as members of His body, to take these steps and start this new year on a more intimate walk with Jesus, well, we cannot even begin to comprehend the mighty works He’ll accomplish through us.