Grace > Resolutions

I like to exercise. I don’t run to lose weight. It’s not a chore or a punishment to me. I delight in it. In college, January was always a little obnoxious to me. I would go to the Rec Center (UNT’s gym) and all the machines would be taken up. These machines were empty in November and December, but January brings out all the individuals who made resolutions. 

 

In February, however, the media would bombard the resolved people with chocolate and romantic comedies, and the gym was nice and empty again.

My organic chemistry professor in college said on the first day of class, “Lunacy is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a new result each time.” 

Why would people expect to receive change on their terms? Resolutions seem like a yearly tradition rooted deeply in the realization of inadequacy. Wholly embraced, the making of resolutions depends on a temporary conviction that, from one year to the next, there will be a change. This change will then yield a desired accomplishment.

This really bugs me.

 

The cause of my aggravation is this: what will fuel this change? Where is this newfound, theoretical dedication coming from? Will it spring up from the ground? Will it arrive in the mail with the new calendar? Is it going to manifest when the clock strikes midnight? Will it appear in the air as the fireworks burst and fade?

We push through the whole 12 months, and yet take one day of the year to self-examine and set goals. Next year, we’ll look away from the previous resolves and set new ones. Making uncommitted resolutions, like blowing bubbles, is fun and short-lived. 

Our insufficiency is a year-long concern. We do not meet the mark. We fail. We stumble. We are gluttons. We are unfaithful, lazy, selfish, angry, unwise, and impatient. We say hurtful things. We are obviously imperfect. We are sinners.

Yet here we are, acknowledging all this (yes!) then resolving to fix it ourselves! (noooo!!)

That’s why there are so many empty gyms in February!

You’re washing the outside of the cup, when we know the inside is the dirty part.

Let’s do something different.

Reality is, you can’t do it by yourself. You want to, but maybe you’re realizing it's gonna take more to fulfill you than hitting the gym more. Looking a certain way won't solve your problems. Neither will learning a new language, or running a marathon, or watching less tv. You’re still the same person who woke up yesterday. Today may be 2012, but you’re the same.

There is something missing that a resolution isn’t going to fix.

It's a change on the inside.
It's a different point of view.
There is a fulfillment that we can only have in Christ.

There is a bridge extended to us, from inadequacy to wholeness.

You are deeply loved by your Creator. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and loving. You have a Father in Heaven. Your Maker has a purpose for you, and a plan to give you a hope and a future.

His son Jesus came to earth. We sang the Christmas songs for the last what, 2 months? He is the hope and the solution to the hopeless resolutions.

Incarnate God, who became flesh so you could be acceptable.
He took your insufficiencies to the cross, and declared that you are forgiven not only for what you have done, but also what you will do or fail to do. You are innocent and without blame. You are a child of God. Worthy. Good. Righteous. You’re enough. You have a Savior.
 
He was raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where He reigns in glory and power.
He’s alive! We serve a living God!

He bears our burdens. He comforts. He encourages. He strengthens. He heals. He listens. He speaks. He guides.

Jesus makes us brand new. Unrecognizably new.

Jesus changes the heart. That's the gospel: good news of great joy!

The best resolution couldn’t hold a candle to a new heart.

You have every reason to look forward to 2012, but don’t preach to yourself that it’s because you’ll be more disciplined to do this or that. 

Let’s wager 2012 not on our performance, but our dependency. 

Let 2012 be the year of your ever-increasing awareness of God’s grace.

Grace to cover all your imperfections. 

Grace to reconcile you to God. 

Grace to give you strength as you strive forward. 

Grace to open up and confess your mess instead of hiding it. 

Grace to heal. 

Grace to receive purpose. 

Grace to trust in God, who never fails. 

Grace to embrace humility and seek out community. 

Grace to put others ahead of yourself. 

Grace to love unconditionally.
Grace to stand fearless.
Grace to be patient.
Grace to listen.
Grace to be more discerning.

Grace to forgive 7x70 times. 

Grace to seek God’s face. 

Grace to be bold and speak out what’s in your heart. 

Grace to bow down as you are, and honor the King.
Grace to be made new.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be a sin offering for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”  -2 Cor 5:16-6:2

Have a blessed 2012!