1 Corinthians 1:1-9

   I do not enjoy Gym as much during January and February as the rest of the year. Mainly because it is more crowded than I am comfortable with; I have to at times wait in line to use certain equipment, watch out I don’t bump into people as I stagger from one demanding exercise to another !  O.K. I can adjust the time I attend, but it is difficult to find a slack 90 minutes these two months… Why? you may ask, if you are interested enough…

because of New year resolutions people make! Many decide this year they WILL exercise! These flood the gym in relative droves (totally unmindful of us regulars!) . However, we regulars know by March most of these new enthusiasts will have lost their resolve… true some stay, which is manageable. (Of course the owners wish they all stayed!)

   I have stopped making New Year resolutions… not because these inevitably fall by the wayside. Why wait till January the First before making important changes!  “Oh Lord, you want me to do what!? SO sorry, it is the 14^th of January, let me know again on December 31^st, than I can make it a resolution for January One, 2021…

   One change I made some time ago, not on a January the first, was to change my response to people who shared their resolution(s) with me… instead of smiling, and making some comment such as, “oh yes, we all know what happens to New Year resolutions!”… I resolved, and still now practice, a more positive affirmation; ‘Good for you! I certainly hope you find the determination to succeed in that! Perhaps we can pray for God’s blessing on your effort! (determined by the context, of course).

   This reflects Paul’s affirmation of the saints in Corinth, and echoes God’s own affirmation of us when we make that momentous resolution to live as a follower of Jesus… a baptised person! Check these words:

1:8 He (the Lord) will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord…

God more than affirms us, he guarantees we will be enabled to keep our resolution, regardless of the day on which it was made!  Let’s assist each other likewise to keep faith and other life enhancing promises!