Resolved: 16-25

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corithians 3:15-18)

For the sake of our faith in the Gospel, do not lose heart friends! No matter how many of life’s torrents come our way, remember Paul’s encouragement here. Each day’s affliction is nothing compared to the future glory when we come before the throne of grace. Let us be resolved for steadfastness, resolved for vigilance, and resolved in our passion for God’s glory. May these resolutions that God has placed upon my heart, be fruitful to you.

16 Resolved, in view of the calling which I have received, to outwork, outserve and outlove the world.
17 Resolved, to teach the Word in such a way that it does not rely on eloquence and rhetoric, but one that is a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that the faith of other’s may rest on the power of God alone (1 Corinthians 2:4)
18 Resolved, to live with a sense of gospel urgency, understanding that hellfire awaits the lost, and that heaven’s glory awaits the saved.
19 Resolved, to never lose the wonder of the cross by cherishing the gospel as my utmost treasure, renewing my fresh affections for the gospel daily, and to never graduate the gospel, nor allow its glory to ever grow cold.
20 Resolved, to align my heart with the heart of God, that I may discern the will of God, his good, acceptable and perfect will (Romans 12:2).
21 Resolved, never to succumb to the flames of anger, understanding that the only just anger is that of God’s wrath from which I have been ransomed.
22 Resolved, to root and saturate myself in the Word of God so that the fruits of his wisdom may grow as abundantly as Eden, and the steadfastness of my faith like that of a tree planted by streams of water.
23 Resolved, to speak in such a manner that scripture pours out of every orifice and paints each word with the riches of holy wisdom.
24 Resolved, to live in such a way that the deeds of my life point to a daily understanding of a future grace that surpasses the greatest riches of the world.
25 Resolved, to spend my time, money and energy in such a way that makes it clear to the world that I hold no stock in the temporal titles of this life, but longingly await the worthy crowns of heaven.

-rbc