Resolutions for the New Year

1.   Looking Back

      a.   Has my relationship with GOD improved?

            i.   Psalm 97:10; Proverbs 8:13; Amos 5:15

            ii.  Psalm 119:97, 113, 127-128, 161-176

            iii. Improving my relationship to God begins with PRAYER

                  (1) 1 Kings 8-9 Solomon (9:3 - “I have heard thy prayer”)

                  (2) 1 Kings 18-19 Hezekiah & Isaiah (I have heard thy...”)

      b.   Has my relationship with BRETHREN improved?

            i.   FELLOWSHIP & TEACHING

                  (1) Acts 2:42-47

                  (2) Acts 20:20

            ii.  Am I in a position to ADMONISH my brother?

                  (1) 1 Thes 5:12 – to be done by ELDERS

                  (2) 2 Thes 3:15 – to be done to the ERRING

                  (3) Matthew 18:15-20 – to be done PRIVATELY

                  (4) Admonishment requirements:

                        (a) Romans 15:14 – GOODNESS & KNOWLEDGE

                        (b) Galatians 6:1 – SPIRITUALITY & MEEKNESS

                        (c) 1 Corinthians 4:14 – LOVE

      c.   Has my relationship with the WORLD improved?

            i.   Matthew 5:13-16

            ii.  Philippians 2:14-15

            iii. Colossians 4:6

2.   Looking Ahead

      a.   Resolving to draw nearer to God

            i.   Begin a daily reading program

                  (1) read the Old Testament this year:

                        (a) Roman 15:4

                        (b) 1 Corinthians 10:11

                  (2) read the New Testament: James 1:21; 1 Peter 2:2

            ii.  Begin a daily program of prayer

                  (1) (see prayer recipient list)

                  (2) count your blessings daily

      b.   Resolving to draw nearer to your brethren

            i.   Make a point to know everyone’s name - Romans 16:16

            ii.  Make contact / visit someone new each month- 1 Peter 4:9

      c.   Resolve to improve your relationship with the world

            i.   not in the sense condemned by James 4:4,

            ii.  but as taught in Galatians 6:9-10

      d.   Redeeming the time:

            i.   Ephesians 5:15-16

            ii.  James 4:14

            iii. If the Lord came today, and asked for an accounting of what time He had given you in the past year: 365 days – 8760 hours – 525,600 minutes – 31.5 million seconds. Would He say: “Well done thou good and faithful servant?” or would He say, “Thou wicked and lazy servant?”