What Am I Gonna Do this Year?

What am I going to do this year?

The question runs In my mind In circles. The year is new and I just feel like I must make some resolutions, So let me think… what does a resolution mean?

“The act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc.:  an answer or solution to something. : the ability of a device to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail.  Merriam-Webster

I was encouraged by the definition but with dejection I mused, we can only look through a “glass darkly.” One day we will see God face to face, but not now; not this year; not in this lifetime.

Nevertheless, I think I have hit on something.  “The only thing you know Is that God knows what he’s doing.” “God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you who He is.” Oswald Chambers

So lets re-invigorate:  we cannot resolve to know what we don’t know, but can we determine to know Him? Yes, yes yes. Of course, God must do the revealing of

Himself but… can we see more clearly? Can we know Him more in detail?

Jesus said, “learn of me — take my yoke upon you and learn of me.”

So, a first key to my resolutions: take on my shoulders what’s on Jesus’ shoulders, (his yoke is easy). A second key, be willing to take on my shoulders (In an identifying) His meekness and lowliness. When we do we find rest for our souls.

Okay, what be this meekness, what this lowliness?

First the lowliness: Trench says it all with,

“not an acknowledgement of sinfulness (which would be untrue) but of creatureliness,”

and meekness? Aquinas says, “meekness, strictly speaking diminishes the passion of anger.” How?

“It is a quality of spirit that accepts God’s dealings with us as good, without disputing or resisting them.”

Jesus goes to Mary and Martha, “but he had lain in the grave four days already… He groaned,” in John 11:33.  “…as He beheld the evidences of death’s grim power. Death had entered the world with man’s sin, and Jesus felt the wrongfulness of Satan’s usurpation. The anarchy that had invaded human life stirred His soul to its lowest depths. The wrong under which man bled wrought in Him an anger which was without sin.” F.B. Meyer

He was agitated and pushed back tears. It was a solemn moment.

But then Jesus wept. Moved deeply by the travesty of death’s power, he tasted human suffering with anger toward it, but now, Identifying with his fellows and moved by their tears, He also shed tears. Yes, the mere mortal and weak expression of helpless grief in Mary and Martha moved Our Savior to tears.

There’s more to learn however.

“And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. John 11:44-45

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:26 

Jesus showed us meekness and lowliness but also the “rest,” “a relief from labor that does not satisfy.” Trench.     It’s in the resurrection.

But,

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? …for this man doeth many miracles? Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. John 11:53

Suddenly a new realization overtook me. If I will know Him this year, the meaning of life of John 17:3, the power of His resurrection, and fellowship of His sufferings, spoken of in Philippians 3:10-13,  then I must know deeper that death has died, has been abolished, has lost it’s sting.

For this to happen we must see the Cross afresh, the freshly shed blood, the Eternal Is. When we touch Him, our resolutions are complete.

 love ya