A New "Do"

Someone has defined New Year’s resolutions as a to-do list for the first week of January. After a week it seems most folks are back to the same same-old, same –old. “One and done.”

On the other hand, there are at least a few who will decide that the turning of that page on the calendar offers an opportunity to do some serious growing and they will begin something in January that leads to real change. In my experience these are people who understand two things.

First, they understand the need for resolve. They are not just following the annual rite of winter. They are people who put the “resolute” into resolutions. They will have the attitude seen in Paul when he wrote these words:

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

Second, they understand the need for help. We just do not make changes alone. For disciples of Jesus that help comes from the “fellowship.”  Listen to John’s words:

”We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Fellowship here is that great Greek word koinonia and it refers to the help, support and love we have with each other and with God and his Son, and the way all these relationships interplay in our lives in a transforming way.

With resolve and help we can be a lot more than a people who are “one and done.” We can follow through with a new “do.”