Resolutions
What is it that makes us want to make resolution each year at this time? Do we like new beginnings or is there something about failing that sucks us in? Have you ever been successful at a resolution? I stopped making them a few years back mainly because I found myself obsessing about them and I would end up failing. I got to thinking about what I would like to see happen in my life that didn't have anything to do with loosing weight. John Wesley came to mind and how he pursued holiness daily. I happened to believe that we can't obtain total holiness or wholeness this side of heaven. However, this is something that as a Methodist I should believe because that's what we believe. I'm not going to get into any arguments about this, if you want to know more, research it. I do believe that we should pursue holiness though everyday. Wesley meet with a group of men that called themselves the Holy Club and everyday they would ask themselves these questions:
- Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words am I a hypocrite?
- Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
- Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
- Can I be trusted?
- Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
- Am I self-conscious, self-pitying or self-justifying?
- Did the Bible live in me today?
- Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
- Am I enjoying prayer?
- When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
- Do I pray about the money I spend?
- Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
- Do I disobey God in anything?
- Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
- Am I defeated in any part of my life?
- Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
- How do I spend my spare time?
- Am I proud?
- Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
- Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
- Do I grumble or complain constantly?
- Is Christ real to me?
Wow, huh? But this is how Wesley pursued holiness everyday. Did he get to a place where he could say "I have gotten it all right today!"? I don't think so, but it didn't keep him from starting back up the next day to pursue this holiness that we are called to go after. So instead of making a resolution this year, I think I'm going to pursue holiness and wholeness daily. Want to join me?
3 comments:
I just wrote about these questions also! Great but difficult stuff! This is quite a challenge, but one well worth taking very seriously. The world needs more people dedicated to the pursuit of holiness. Without them, many will never see God.
Yes! I will join you! I am copying these and will print them out and will try to my best ability to begin my day with these questions!
Yeah Janet! We will have a little holy club! Jonathan, I'm finding that we all are thinking along the same lines lately! I loved what you had to say in your blog!
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