A New Year's Resolution Worth Keeping

For many, the end of another year brings with it the dreaded New Year's resolution. Dreaded because it is often a reminder of some type of personal shortcoming. Dreaded because we know deep down we won't keep it. Dreaded because it reminds us of all the other resolutions we may have made and didn't keep.

I personally don't make New Year's resolutions, however I do have one for those who do that I believe is a resolution worth keeping. I believe in this so much that I've made it my one and only life goal. It is the foundation upon which I make decisions, evaluate priorities and engage in ministry. It is the first thing I revisit when things in my life seem out of whack. Here it is and it's found in Mark 12:30-31--And you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart and all your soul and all your might and all your strength...you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

Making the Great Commandment your life goal means that you will seek God like you've never sought him before. It means you will desire his presence above all else. It means you will hunger and thirst for his Word. It means you'll want to know him and learn more about him. It means your goals and priorities will realign with his. It means you will seek to serve others and meet their needs before your own. If you are as husband, it means you will put your wife first and love her like Christ loved the church. If you are a father, it means you will put your children next and love them like God loves you and teach them like He teaches you.

These verses are referred to as the Great Commandment as they were Jesus' response to the Pharisees when they asked him what was the greatest commandment of God. Our Savior obliterated hundreds of laws and vain traditions with one simple, yet powerful, commandment. Since Jesus himself called this the greatest commandment, what else in life should take priority over being great at the Great Commandment? Now that's a resolution worth keeping!