A New Start Resolutions in the Power of God
Mark 14: 71-72 (NLT) Peter swore, "A curse on me if I'm lying--I don't know this man you're talking about!" And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me." And he broke down and wept.
T.S Eliot once said, "For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice." Profound thoughts for us to consider as 2010 draws to a close and the year 2011 beckons to us. The transition of years is the same as any other day of the year. It has 24 hours, divided equally with 60 minutes to each hour. Nothing extraordinary occurs between the 11:59 PM and 12:00 AM change of the clock on December 31st. Yet we assign so much significance to the New Year. We assign so much hope to the New Year. It represents to us a new start. A chance to wipe the slate clean and try again. An opportunity to finally get it right.
If you look at the typical top ten New Year resolutions, you will see a graveyard of regret. In the top five alone are quitting smoking, drinking and the inevitable losing weight. In the top ten are such regrets as spending more time with loved ones and "helping others." It is unfortunate that we wait until this magic date to try and reflect upon how we can improve our lives but perhaps what is more frustrating is how quickly the resolutions fade into the deep winter each year.
But take heart! There is good news today! We do not have to wait until the failed magic of New Years comes around every 365 days to get a new start. That new start is available to us every day of the year through Jesus Christ. He offers the opportunity to wipe our slate clean and start over whenever we want to seriously look at changing our lives. Because if we were serious with ourselves we would admit that resolutions do not work because they are rooted in our inability to follow through. We change with the shifting winds where as God, always remains stable:
"I am the L ord , and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Malachi 3: 6 (NLT)
When we resolve to go to God with our need to change our lives we are trusting His sovereign abilities and unchanging nature. If we were to be honest with ourselves we would admit there are many times we need to be transformed by God. Many times we needed that new start. Realize we are not talking about a second chance which we probably used up many years ago! Our God is a God of another chance. The Apostle Peter represents the life that is changed ever so slowly, but once realized can be so powerful.
Peter was drawn by Jesus personally on the
Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" And they left their nets at once and followed him. Mark 1: 17-18 (NLT)
