The Best Resolution of All
Scripture Reading — Colossians 2:6-7
Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him…
Colossians 2:6-7
It’s a new year! Have you made any resolutions for 2012? At this time of year many people try to change habits and set goals they would like to accomplish. One resolution we would all do well to make this year is to grow in our relationship with Christ.
Most of the time, keeping new year’s resolutions requires a lot of energy and commitment on our part. It’s no wonder so many of us have a hard time sticking to them! Growth in spiritual matters can seem just as hard at times, but here’s the good thing about the resolution to grow in Christ: it involves his work much more than ours.
This doesn’t mean that pursuing greater spiritual maturity is easy. As we’ll see this month, practicing Christian virtues is rigorous. But all the energy we devote to spiritual growth is ultimately our response to the primary work of God’s grace, and it is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s fruitful ministry in our lives.
We’ve just celebrated Christmas and have once again “received Christ Jesus.” This month, I invite you to reflect on how you can “continue to live … in him, rooted and built up in him.” With the image Jesus uses in John 15 of branches attached to a vine as our guide, let’s explore what it means to abide in Christ. And let’s do so expecting to see fruit the Holy Spirit will produce!
Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us safely into another year. May we experience lots of spiritual growth in 2012, to your praise and glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Peter Hoytema
Peter Hoytema has been a pastor for nearly 30 years and has served congregations in Ontario and New Jersey. He is currently the pastor of a congregation in Strathroy, Ontario. He is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Grace, are the parents of four adult children.
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