The New Year has begun, and for many it has been a time for New Year resolution, many of which have proved to be New Year’s Day resolutions – if that.
Far better than making New Year Resolutions is surely to strive for Reformation of Life.
In Romans 12:1–2 we read “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
In what is certainly a suitable application of the Reformation of Life principle contained in Rom 12:1-2 Jonathan Edwards in 1772-3 made 70 resolutions which were purposed by him under God to be used for the reformation of his life. That is why Jonathan Edwards read his resolutions once every week as an aid to keep his mind on his duty before God.
Here is the first of Jonathan Edwards’ 70 Resolutions:
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.
In so doing of course we need to follow Edward’s self-assessment, goal and advice. Te keeping of the resolutions was not an arrogant display of human potency or ability, nor were they an end in themselves which he could tick off week by week let alone at the end of his life as ‘a job well done’. Listen to how he introduces them, forming a constant reminder against pride and self-fulfilment:
“Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ’s sake.”
[for a copy of the Resolutions go to: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works1.i.iii.html — you can also obtain a free download (as PDF) of His collected writings – see the link on that page]