2011 Resolutions

So, it's 2011. And every New Year brings an opportunity for reflection and recommitment to a new life, a "preferred" life. I find it a little humorous that we are willing to put up with unacceptable circumstances or behaviors in our life until the calendar changes. But that's another post...

I have run into quite a few folks who are very frustrated with their inability to overcome specific areas of sin in their life. Maybe they struggle with anger or legalism, pornography or jealousy, the list is long and infamous. Almost every time, the statement comes in a form similar to, "I hate this about my life and I have tried everything. I can stay sin-free for (insert some time period), but then I slide back into my old ways. Why can't I live without this burden?"

And therein resides the problem. We are not talking about a change in behaviors so much as we need a change in our thinking. We think that the Greek word, metanoia, which we translate "repent" means to change our activities. What it really means is to change our mind or our thinking. We have bought into a series of lies about God and ourselves and our social obligations that have replaced what God would have us understand, and these wrong thoughts form the foundation of our behaviors. Frankly, if we want to change our behaviors, we first need to purge our minds of these wrong ideas.

Once you have addressed those lies and replaced them with God's truth, you need two more things to create real change in your life. The good news is that only one of them is your responsibility. You need to discipline your "flesh" as Paul puts it. Sarx, translated "flesh," in this sense is not so much about the meat on your bones, but your tendency to rebel against God and His Kingdom. So you need spiritual disciplines to help you tame those desires and redirect your heart toward the Lord.

And the part that is not up to you? Well, true transformation comes thru the work of the Living Spirit of God. Every person who has put all trust and hope in Christ for salvation is given the gift of the Holy Spirit. The change that you are looking for in your life is a result of the work of God, the Holy Spirit.

There will be more on this in the future. This is a big part of what we will be looking at in 2011 at Grace. This is at the core of real Discipleship. And Paul says that this is how we are to worship God. I'll leave you with his words from Romans 12:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. 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 12:1-2