New Year’s Resolutions
	I’m not all that fond of making resolutions for the new year. I seldom succeed in keeping them! However, there are some common resolutions that can be applied in uncommon ways. Here are three:
	Lose Weight. Most of us ate too much over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, so our waistlines may need to be reduced. That might be a fine and healthy thing to do, but the Bible speaks of another kind of weight loss that will bless us even more. After going through a lengthy list of great men and women of faith in chapter 11, Hebrews chapter 12 begins: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Nobody running a race wants a bunch of extra weight to carry. Extra weight slows you down! The Hebrews writer was dealing with people who were discouraged and had lost some of their confidence in Jesus. Opposition from fellow-Jews who didn’t believe in Jesus was pulling many of these folks back toward the Law of Moses and the rituals of Judaism. Those specific things probably don’t affect us very much, but there are other weights that hinder our service to God. Obviously any sin will slow us down, but even things that are good and wholesome in and of themselves can be an obstacle if we allow it. I cannot tell what weights might be holding you back, but I would encourage you to do some honest self-evaluation and lay those weights aside, whatever they are.
	Exercise. We saw in one of Paul’s five faithful sayings that bodily exercise is, indeed, profitable (2Tim. 4:8). But the preceding verse tells us of an even more important exercise – exercising yourself to godliness. The Hebrews writer likened the Christian life to a race. Running is, by itself, an exercise; but it helps greatly if you have exercised and gotten yourself into shape for the race. So exercise yourself to godliness. Remember to read your Bible, and not only read, but study it. And pray! As the Scripture says, continue steadfastly in prayer. Participate regularly with fellow-Christians. We’re members of the BODY of Christ. Your connection to the head (Christ) is not solitary – you are also connected to your brothers and sisters. You have obligations to us, and we have obligations to you. I can’t build you up if I never see or talk to you; likewise you can’t build me up if you stay away at times when we are supposed to be together.
	Finally, Save Money. All too often, the budget is blown after the holiday season. After the gifts are unwrapped, the credit card statements start coming in. So we resolve to spend less and save more as we begin a new year. That will certainly put money in the bank. However, Jesus spoke of how we can put deposits into the bank of Heaven. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19, 20). Now, we might say, “If I give to the Lord’s cause and help those in need, I won’t have as much in the bank.” And it might seem that this is true. But I submit that the challenge God gave to His people under the Old Covenant is applicable to the new. In Malachi 3:10 He told them to give as He had commanded, and just see if He didn’t bless them in return. This isn’t a “give in order to get” scheme, but a test of faith. Do you trust Him to supply for your needs, or not? Even if God doesn’t choose to return as much or more to you as you give to Him, you’ve still laid up treasure in Heaven.
	So remember: Lose weight! Lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Exercise. Exercise yourself to godliness. And save money. Add to your account in the bank of Heaven.
	Happy New Year!