The beginning of a new year is typically a time when we make what are referred to as New Year’s resolutions. A resolution is a firm decision, a strong determination, an unwavering promise we make to ourselves or to others of our intent to live differently – to accomplish certain goals and objectives that we believe will improve the quality of our lives and our relationships with others.
Some typical resolutions might include:
Resolved: To exercise regularly and eat healthier this coming year.
Resolved: To quit smoking/drinking or another problematic or sinful habit.
Resolved: To get out of debt and save money.
Resolved: To become a kinder and more patient person.
Resolved: To become a better wife/husband/mother/father/student/employee.
Resolved: To read my Bible, go to church and pray at least an hour each day.
Now all of these resolutions appear to be good and honorable, even commendable, and they all very well may be. However, it is also possible and even probable that none of them may be – at least not in the eyes of God, which is ultimately all that matters. The truth is that all of these resolutions may be seen by God as sin. And the reason they may be sinful is when they are pursued for our glory rather than God’s, putting faith in our abilities for “self-improvement”, rather than faith in and dependence upon Him to become the man or women He calls us to become (Romans 3:23) (Romans 14:23) (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The Bible states quite clearly in Isaiah 43:7 that mankind was created by God for His Glory. When the Bible speaks of the glory of God, it is speaking of the infinite value of God’s person and the perfections of His Being, which mankind was created to image, proclaim and enjoy (Genesis 1:26-28) (Psalm 8:4-8). Each of us was created to image in our being and display through our activities, relationships, talents and achievements, unique aspects of the infinite perfections of God’s being, finding our greatest joy, our greatest pleasure, our greatest satisfaction, our ultimate significance in knowing, loving and being loved by God, acknowledging with gratitude our dependence upon Him for any and all good in our lives (James 1:17) (1 Corinthians 4:7) (Psalm 69:30). Thus, in 1 Corinthians 10:31 we are commanded that in whatever we do, whether we eat or drink, work or play, sleep or pray, or write a Christian blog post, we are to do so for the glory of God.
However, mankind, beginning with Adam, have rejected God’s purpose for and rule over our lives, replacing it with our own. This is what the Bible refers to as sin (Isaiah 53:6) (Romans 3:23). In doing so, we have brought ourselves under God’s judgement, bringing a curse upon ourselves and creation, wherein we are separated – cut off from the glorious life with God for which we were created, and where nothing that exists in this world comes close to displaying the beauty and glory of God as God intended, particularly mankind (Genesis 3:17-19) (Deuteronomy 30:19) (Jeremiah 17:5).
God does not command us to live for His glory – to behold, love, treasure, enjoy, proclaim and display aspects of the infinite beauty and perfection of His being because He is a cosmic narcissist in need of the approval of His creation to confirm His value. He does so out of love. For if we live for, are motivated by any other purpose than His glory, we remain under this curse – unsatisfied, unfulfilled, angry, discontent, always in search of something more, something new, something better to satisfy and fulfill needs and desires that only God can fulfill and satisfy (Philippians 4:19) (Psalm 90:14) (Psalm 37:4) (Psalm 16:11). Tragically, we are destined to come to know the full force of this curse in the depravations and torments of an eternity in Hell if we continue to live in our God belittling sin (Psalm 9:17).
The good news, the gospel, is that God the Father, motivated by love for a sin cursed humanity, sent God the Son, Jesus Christ, into the world, as a man, to proclaim and display His glory, the glory of His mercy and grace (John 3:16) (John 1:14), by taking upon Himself, on the cross on Calvary, the full force of the curse our sin deserves in Hell ((1 Peter 2:24-25). He did so that all who repent – who turn from their sin and entrust their life to Him, could be “redeemed”- justly forgiven of their sin and restored to the glorious beings and glorious relationship with God for which man was created (Galatians 3:13-14). In our redemption God creates in us a new heart with a passion to know, love and be loved by God, to live our lives no longer for ourselves, but for the glory of God as we see it revealed in the person and work of Jesus (Ezekiel 11:19) (2 Corinthians 5:15) (2 Corinthians 4:6).
What, therefore, would/should be the resolutions of those of us whose passion in this life is to live for the glory of God?
Jonathon Edwards was a man I believe wrote more on the glory of God than any other man apart from the Apostle Paul. He became a Christian early in his life and as a young man in his twenties he wrote for himself seventy resolutions (link to) that he would strive to achieve, by the grace and power of God, in order to live his life for the glory of God.
The preamble or introduction to those resolutions reads like this: “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him that by His grace He would enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ’s sake (glory).”
So, what might a Christian’s list of resolutions look like this year – and every year? If Edward’s list is too formidable (it certainly is for me), I would suggest it include some of the resolutions below:
Resolved: To give time each day to pursuing a deeper knowledge of and relationship with the one who loved me and gave His life for me. Jeremiah 9:23-24 Galatians 2:20
Resolved: To strive to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and my neighbor as myself. Matthew 22:37-39
Resolved: To make my priority endeavor the seeking of the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33
Resolved: To love not the world and the things of the world as the source of my hope, joy and gladness. 1 John 2:15 Philippians 4:4
Resolved: To consider other people’s needs more important than my own. Philippians 2:3-4
Resolved: To become increasingly Holy as God is Holy. 1 Peter 1:14-16
Resolved: To deny myself as the center of my life, pick up my cross and follow Jesus. Matthew 16:24
Resolved: To trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding in the circumstances of my life, trusting He is working all things together for my ultimate and eternal good. Proverbs 3:5-6 Romans 8:28
Resolved: To no longer be conformed to the passions and fashions of this world, but to be increasingly transformed into the image of Jesus by the renewing of my mind through prayer, Bible study and active participation in a Bible teaching church. Romans 12:1-2
Resolved: To share the glory of the Gospel for the salvation and eternal joy of all whose lives I touch. 2 Timothy 4:2
Resolved: To recognize my absolute dependence on the glory of God’s grace, displayed through the power of the Holy Spirit, to achieve any or all of the above resolutions. John 15:5 1 Corinthians 15:10 John 14:16-17
This was originally posted in January 2021 and reposted with minor revisions in January 2025. I am reposting again with revisions, so that we may be encouraged to keep our hearts and minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-4), and not get caught up in the insanity of this ‘present evil world” as we await the fulfillment of the glorious promise of eternal life with our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, looking with great anticipation of and preparing for the glorious day wherein we will finally behold Him, be made like Him and be with Him in all of His glory, forever! (1 John 3:1-3) (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). And the “good news” is that we are one year closer to that day.
Grace and Peace ×
Thank you for reposting this great information, and thank Jonathan Edwards for his knowledge and to pursue life through God.
Thank you, Michael for reading and taking the time to comment,