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Happy 2025, Foxworth First Baptist Church!

“It’s time to go to the gym!”  Or at least that is what many people resolve to do (or something similar concerning their physical health) at the start of each new year.  But statistics tell us that 80% of people quit their New Year’s Resolutions by...February.  You, like me, may have become critical of “New Year’s Resolutions” because of the fact that no one really seems to keep them, but there is a reason to reflect, plan, and get to work.  In nearly every facet of life we are goal-setters.  Why not in our walk with Jesus?

None of us know what 2025 will hold for us, personally, or for us as His church here at Foxworth First.  We do know, though, that until the Lord returns we are to (Eph. 5:16) “[make] the best use of the time...”  We are prone to not make the best use of the time God has entrusted to us without first planning.  God leads...we plan...God directs...we adjust...we, empowered by the Holy Spirit, keep pressing on!  This is the life of the church (and the individual believer) in this life.  Without the reflecting, planning, and getting to work (& pressing on), we become ineffective and unfruitful.

I want to propose to you some “resolutions” I believe would be beneficial to our individual walks as Christians (which in turn prove to be beneficial to our life as a body of believers).  We will most likely have the February experience (the failure) with one or more of these, but if we want to keep getting in shape – we don’t just give up...we get back to work after having failed.  Will you resolve (decide firmly on a course of action; firm determination to do something) with me?

  1. We resolve to spend time in God’s Word, daily.
    • We do so because our relationship with Jesus is the most important in our lives, & He is the Word (John 1).
    • We do so in order to live (Matt. 4:4).
    • We do so in order to grow (1 Peter 2:2).
    • We do so in order to honor God with the life He has given us (Psalm 119:11).
  1. We resolve to actively love God and others.
    • We do so because God first loved us (John 3:16; 1 John 3:1, 4:19).
    • We do so because we are so blessed and we are to bless (1 John 3:17-18).
    • We do so because God commands we love (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 6:43-44; Mark 12:30-31).
  1. We resolve to submit to God as the Lord of our Speech (Psalm 19:14).
    • We do because we have been made new (Eph. 4:22-25; Col. 3:8).
    • We do so in order to build others up (Eph. 4:29).
    • We do so in order to speak in the name of Jesus (Col. 3:17).
  1. We resolve to tell others about Jesus Christ, our Savior.
    • We do so because we have been commanded (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8).
    • We do so because Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
    • We do so in order that people may believe and have eternal life (Rom. 10:13; John 3:3; 1 John 5:13).
  1. We resolve to grow toward being an accurate reflection of Jesus.
    • We do so by putting to death our earthly nature (Col. 3:5-9).
    • We do so by clothing ourselves in righteousness (Col. 3:12-14; Rom. 13:14).
  1. We resolve to being generous with what the Lord has entrusted to us to steward.
    • We do so because of the sowing & reaping principle (2 Cor. 9:6).
    • We do so because “...God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).
    • We do so to exercise our spiritual giftedness for the good of one another (1 Cor. 12:7).

May our Mighty Savior & King receive glory and honor and praise through the life of His people!

Be friendly to those around you (be reminded of what friendship really means).  Be faithful to the LORD and His ways (and faithful to His Bride:  the Church).  Be focused on your mission and the day that will come when this will be no more and we will be like Him!

 

Pastor loves you, church!