Resolved to Excel Still More
At the end of each year we are faced with this dilemma: New Year's resolutions. If we made any for the just-ending year, we look back to see how well we did or did not do at keeping them. Often such resolutions have to do with health of one kind or another. I quit making a year's worth of resolutions some time ago. I might make a to-do list for a week.
I am conscious that having reached the age of 70 years, I do not know how much longer I will live. Psalm 90:10-12 says, "As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away. Who understands the power of Your anger and Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."
My goal thus is to resolve to excel still more, however many my days may be--still more in humility, in patience, in self-control, in love, in service.
As Paul wrote to the church at Rome: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality" (Romans 12:9-13).
As Paul wrote to the church at Philippi: "Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:1-4).
And finally as Paul wrote in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica: "Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and to attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you" (1 Thessalonians 4:9-11; emphasis added).
I am conscious that having reached the age of 70 years, I do not know how much longer I will live. Psalm 90:10-12 says, "As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away. Who understands the power of Your anger and Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."
My goal thus is to resolve to excel still more, however many my days may be--still more in humility, in patience, in self-control, in love, in service.
As Paul wrote to the church at Rome: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality" (Romans 12:9-13).
As Paul wrote to the church at Philippi: "Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:1-4).
And finally as Paul wrote in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica: "Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and to attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you" (1 Thessalonians 4:9-11; emphasis added).
posted by Ebeth | 10:28 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home