
When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, [Jesus] resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem. -Luke 9:51 (NABRE)
New Year’s resolutions. Pretty much everyone makes at least one. “I’m going to exercise every day” or “I’m going to read a book a month this year” or “I’m going to get on a better sleep schedule”. But the reality is, not many of us make it past the first month. By January 31st, I think most of us give up, and it’s just kind of accepted in our culture.
But when Jesus resolved to do something, He stuck it out to the end. The gospel of Luke tells us that when Jesus knew it was time for Him to go up to Jerusalem to suffer and die, He “resolutely determined” to go and fulfill what He’d been sent here to do. He didn’t make excuses, and He didn’t back out. Even though it hurt, He endured to the end…because He believed that what awaited Him on the other side was worth it.
I’m not suggesting you make twenty New Year’s resolutions and burn yourself out trying to keep them all. But maybe we should give our resolutions this year some prayerful thought and ask Jesus what He wants us to accomplish this year…and then “resolutely determine” to stick it out to the end. And not just health goals and goals that make us nicer people, but the ultimate goal: to get to heaven.
Enduring to the end may hurt, just like it did for Jesus. But if we stick it out and push ourselves to be resolute in our mission, we can trust that what awaits us on the other side is better than we could ever imagine.
© Isabelle Wood 2024
Photo copyright Canva
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