Making Commitments
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass (Psalm 37:5). Commit thy works unto the LORD, and Thy thoughts shall be established (Proverbs 16:3).
New Year’s Resolutions are somewhat traditional in America, not that many keep them. People resolve to change bad practices, behavior, and habits or to continue good practices. Loss of weight and the cessation of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are common resolutions. Many of the goals are personal, but most have the expectation of improving their lives – a wish list in most cases.
Jonathan Edwards today is best remembered for his sixty-five resolutions which he considered on a weekly basis and not just at the time the New Year. He was so committed to God that he wanted to be certain of keeping his commitments (Resolutions). He played a major role in the Great Awakening in America (1730’s – 1740’s). His sermon preached in 1741, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” shook thousands of people who turned from their sins to God.
The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards are worth reading and provide for us some direction about the kinds of commitments we ought to be making in our Christian lives. To list them all would take more pages than you are willing to read in this devotional. Here are a few of them with a preface statement from him. Read them and ask yourself if any of these reflect the kinds of commitments you make before the LORD.
Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ’s sake.
(# 1) 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 now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.
(#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.
(# 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.
(# 7) Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it would be the last hour of my life.
(# 13) Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
(# 14) Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.
(# 15) Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.
(# 16) Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
(# 17) Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
(#20) Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
(# 37) Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself; also at the end of the week, month and year.
(# 39) Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterward, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
(# 52) I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.
(#54) Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it.
(# 58) Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity.
(# 62) Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Ephesians 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man: “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.”
So, where do we start. One commitment that every believer ought to make relates to our church attendance. This one stands out because of the restrictions governments placed on churches relating to the Coronavirus. In many places in America, churches are not allowed to meet in public assembly.
If and when we are allowed to meet again, many Christians will have been out of the habit of regular church attendance for some time. Regardless of what we might think or how we feel, God’s Word must be our final authority. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).
Make a list of some Christ-honoring, God-glorifying commitments. Search out God’s Word and pray about what God would have you to commit yourself to in the New Year.
George Stiekes serves as a Lay Pastor at Bethany Bible Church in Hendersonville, NC. See here for a more complete bio of brother Stiekes extensive ministry. We republish his material by permission.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash