Governing bodies, committees and other formal groups often pass resolutions as expressions of their opinion or intention. Individuals also often fashion New Year’s resolutions. Unfortunately, even if these personal commitments are wise and practical, they all too often have a short life span.
In relation to a believer’s life in Christ, there are important resolutions each of us should consider. Several Bible personalities can point us in the direction of some of these as we enter a new calendar year. This week we begin with Daniel in the Old Testament.
Daniel’s personal goal
When Daniel became a captive, the king of Babylon decreed that he and his three friends should be given “a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank” (Dan. 1:5). In the face of that imperial decree, Daniel “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank” (Dan. 1:8).
Daniel’s firmness of purpose was a personal resolution. It might have been that he and his friends saw their refusal to indulge in the food and drink from the king’s table as a step in the direction of withstanding other temptations from the Babylonian culture.
On the positive side, Daniel might have had the insight that the easy way of accepting the king’s provisions would lead him away from a firm dependence on the living God to supply his daily needs.
Whatever the case, from Daniel’s decision we might distill as a fitting resolution that of leading undefiled lives in devotion to God. Our resolution might read: “Be it resolved that I shall seek to maintain a pure and God-pleasing life.”
With a bit of reflection, we might allow this resolution to find expression in several ways. For example, we might renew the resolve not to defile our bodies through neglect, hurtful habits or other mistreatment, but to treat them as a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Again, we might resolve not to defile our personal walk with God through neglect of His word and personal prayer times, but rather seek to be blessed as those “pure in heart who will see God” (Matt. 5:8). We might also make it our resolve not to defile our relationship with friends and family through careless acts or thoughtless words.
Next week Theology 101 will glean thoughts from some New Testament examples of those who made important and meaningful resolutions.
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