OK, I know I said that I didn’t make New Year’s resolutions, and it’s true. I don’t. It would be hard enough to think of which resolutions I needed to make; but then to go to all that trouble for something I know I wasn’t going to do? Senseless. I just don’t start, so I don’t have to worry or feel guilty about stopping.
For the next 12 weeks my Bible Study group will be studying the Book of Daniel. As I worked on my first week’s assignment, verse 8 of Daniel 1 jumped out at me: But Daniel resolved not to defile himself….”
The Babylonian king–that same king (Nebuchadnezzar) who had just conquered his people and taken him captive–had issued a command to those he had taken hostage, but Daniel said “no way.” And I thought, “Wow. I need to pay attention.”
Here young Daniel (barely a teen-ager) had been carried off from Jerusalem to pagan Babylon and told to forego his kosher meals to eat the rich cuisine of the Babylonian culture, from the king’s own table no less. And this young boy, brought up in the Jewish faith and traditions, was so sure of himself and his God that he defied the king and resolved to stay true to his faith.
Maybe I need to take another look at making resolutions. Maybe I should give some thought to keeping them.
So I resolve to walk my talk. I am a Christian, and I say so here publicly with no reservations and no shame. You have free will. God gave it to you, so who am I to try to take it from you? You may believe whatever you want. You may serve any god or gods you choose, or none at all. That is your choice and your decision to make. But I, Charlotte, resolve to live for, bring glory to, worship, serve and honor the one true living God of all Creation. And I make no apologies.
Daniel didn’t compromise when he found himself in ancient Babylon. I shall not compromise living here in “modern Babylon.” I don’t care what pop culture says, what the TV commercials sell, what the song lyrics push, what the world says is right. I resolve to live by God’s Word. At whatever cost.
What about you? Where do you stand? Are you standing? What are you standing on? Will it take you into His eternal presence?
What do you resolve?
