A Life's Resolution

Philippians 3:8 -9(a) (NLT)  8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. . . .

Did you know that making New Year’s resolutions goes back 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians? For 3,000 years, people have been saying, “This year, I’m going to stop smoking and lose some weight,” and for 3,000 years, New Year’s resolutions have been failing.

So, I want to talk about a resolution. But not a “New Year’s Resolution.” Instead, a “Life’s Resolution.”

If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior, if you have received Jesus as Lord of your life, then John Chapter 1 says you have been born again – not with a physical birth but with a new spiritual birth that comes from God.

And in this new spiritual birth, God has accomplished all that you need
For your SALVATION – from the penalty of sin
For your TRANSFORMATION – in this life
For your GLORIFICATION – in your eternal life with God.

God has actually ACCOMPLISHED ALL that we need in all of those areas on our behalf. God has PROVIDED ALL that we need for us to live a new life in Jesus Christ. God has accomplished it all, and God has provided it all. And yet, there is equally an "our part" part.

The "our part" part is a resolution. Not a New Year’s resolution, but a life’s resolution. Not a cyclical resolution. Not a bi-polar resolution (which is on today and off tomorrow). But a rock-solid, all-in, no matter what – absolute life’s resolution. The word “resolution” means: “A determination, A decidedness, A purposefulness.” And that is what it takes to live in a “Life’s Resolution” to know and follow Jesus Christ.

Have you ever heard of “values clarification?” Values clarification is basically deciding what is most important to you and then making decisions based on what is most important to you. A life’s resolution to know and follow Jesus Christ is a values clarification that sets the ultimate direction of your life.

And here is the ultimate “values clarification” for a Christ-follower.

Philippians 3:8(a) (NLT)
8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord . . . 

When we come to the realization that nothing in this world ultimately can compare to the value of knowing Jesus Christ, then we are “well on our way” to making a genuine “life’s resolution.” And then we start making life’s decisions based on our life’s resolution which is exactly what we see the Apostle Paul doing here.

Philippians 3:8(b)-9(a) (NLT)
8. . . For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.

The word “discarded” means to “willingly throw overboard.” Paul is saying I have “willingly thrown overboard” anything and everything that may keep me from gaining Christ and becoming one with him. THAT is a genuine life’s resolution.

And then (verse 8) Paul makes it even clearer. He says, I have counted everything else as GARBAGE, so that I can gain Christ and become one with him.

Paul’s talking about other things in this life that he may’ve put his trust in, that he may’ve put his confidence in. And he says compared to the value of gaining Christ and becoming one with him . . . anything else I would grasp for (or hold on to) in this life - is like GARBAGE. This is a life’s resolution that is determined, decided, and unshakable. Nothing compares to the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ and becoming one with him.

Following Jesus at this determined level is a daily commitment. Your life’s resolution occurs each day. Every day, you can know Jesus better. You cannot live this life’s resolution once or twice a week, and a bi-polar resolution is the worst of all – where you’re committed to Christ some days and committed to your “self” and the world other days. You have to learn to live your “life’s resolution” on a daily basis.

Guys, God loves you enough to send his Son to die in your place and then to send you his Holy Spirit to live inside you for the power to live for him every day.

God has accomplished it ALL.
God has provided ALL you need.
Your part is to make a life’s resolution to know him in every circumstance in life and to possess what he has possessed you for.
 
Questions: Have you committed your life to Jesus Christ? If so, are you growing your relationship with him by praying and reading his Word daily? How can you specifically commit to knowing him in every circumstance in your life?

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for accomplishing it all and for providing all we need. Help us to make this life’s resolution to know and follow Jesus Christ a daily commitment in every circumstance and every situation. Thank you for the power you give us to live for you every single day and in every single moment. For your glory, and in your name, Jesus, amen.

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