Resolutions

Here we are down at the bottom of January and we’re supposed to have the holidays solidly behind us. I mean, it’s been a whole month! Why is it that I just took my Christmas tree down and why are there still little white lights on the outside of my house? You’re probably one of those sane folks that take your tree down right after Christmas and have it out to the curb or back in  the box by New Years Day. Some people love to have the whole mess put away before the kids go back to school. Not me. I hate putting away all the beautiful glass, silver and gold ornaments. Taking down the Christmas lights when it’s this so dark outside seems like unnecessary asceticism.  After all, where I live, it’s not only the darkest time of the year, it’s also the coldest. Keeping a wreath over my hearth seems like a small comfort.
 
There are other parts of the festive season that I’m glad are over. For example, I don’t need to eat one more cheese ball or cookie. Give me some fresh fruit and veg please. Furthermore, The same holiday music that sounds so festive after Thanksgiving, makes me sick by the New Year. I especially loathe those moronic song on the radio like, “It’s a Marshmallow World in the Winter” or “I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas.”  Tunes like those make me feel backslidden by January. I’m more than ready for worship music.
 
Isn’t it ironic that we eventually get hungry for normalcy in our schedules and begin to crave what our souls need? We are even tempted to make resolutions about our routines. The only problem is that resolutions by themselves are hard to keep. Maybe the promises you made at the beginning of the month have already been difficult. That’s why I was so excited when I read this verse this week:
 
“His divine nature has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, thought the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” II Peter 1:3,4
 
 
This is such great news! God’s divine nature is already in me because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, he has made us partakers of his divine nature. When we became Christians he called us to partake in his glory and excellence!  It’s almost too good to be true.
It has no bearing on how well we behave. It has everything to do with receiving his nature by faith. He is more committed to conforming us to the image of Jesus than we are. (Phil 1:6) It’s not my moral muscle that changes me, the Holy Spirit draws me, teaches me and persuades me. As we spend time alone with Jesus, he transforms us better than any set of New Year’s resolutions ever could. That’s the best gift I’ve received so far! No re-gifting necessary!