Resolutions can be hard to maintain. But 2 Corinthians 5:17 gives us A New Year’s Resolution for Christians that is super easy to keep all year long. Find out how in this short devotional.
New Year, New You
It’s time to turn the page and embrace a New Year and a New You.
For most of us, that means making new resolutions to accomplish the goals we’ve wished for and planned all year long.
Now that the Thanksgiving pie and Christmas cookies are gone, many of us will resolve to lose weight. We’ll spend lots of money on gym memberships or workout equipment in the hope of shedding those extra pounds and improving our health.
Some of us got caught up in the grind at work this past year, and now we want to improve our relationships with the people in our lives. So, we’ll resolve to carve out more time for those we love the most.
And maybe some of us will take up a new hobby or plan next summer’s vacation.
How to Set Christian Resolutions
No matter what our New Year’s resolutions may be, they all have something in common…
We want to do new things, feel the excitement of the road less traveled, and experience renewed hope. Because it’s just human nature to want a brighter future!
The resolutions we make at the beginning of each year represent a transformation we want to take place in our lives.
However, as Christians, we’re striving for more than an outward change, it’s a deeper spiritual growth we’re after, one that aligns with God’s purpose for us. And our resolutions should reflect our desire to grow in faith, live in the likeness of Christ, and serve others with His love.
With that in mind, here are some ideas for setting Christian resolutions this year…
- Commit to daily Bible reading to strengthen your relationship with God and better understand His Word.
- Develop a consistent prayer life to draw nearer to God and seek His guidance in all things.
- Serve others in your community and church by volunteering or offering help to those in need, showing the love of Christ in action.
- Forgive past grievances and work toward healing and reconciliation in your relationships, as Jesus teaches us.
- Cultivate gratitude by keeping a prayer journal of blessings and thanking God for the big and small moments of grace in your life.
What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:17?
If we’ve accepted Jesus as our Savior, then an amazing transformation has already taken place inside of us.
Now that we’ve looked at how we can commit ourselves to God’s plan for our lives over the next year, let’s read this scripture from 2 Corinthians 5:17 and discover the spiritual New Year’s resolution that’s already happened in our lives once we’re saved.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
A New Creation
Because we’re in Christ, He has made us new. He has cleansed us of our past transgressions, changed us from within, and transformed us into the very likeness of Himself.
The moment we gave our heart to Him, this transformation happened. We didn’t have to work hard for it, put in hours at the gym, or spend lots of money to accomplish this goal. Jesus did the work for us on the cross! Christ’s death and resurrection turned us into a new creation the second we believed. And now we’re restored to what God originally created us for, a loving, personal relationship with Him.
As a new creature in Christ, the old life no longer has a hold on us. We’ve been given a fresh start, a new spirit, and a new identity in Him. The habits, the mistakes, and the struggles from our past are wiped away. Through God’s Word, we learn that we’re not defined by who we used to be but by who we are now, a child of God, empowered to live according to His purpose. What a beautiful reminder that with Jesus, every day is an opportunity to step into the new life He has prepared for us!
Old Things Have Passed Away
With His work on the cross, Jesus gave us the gift of God’s grace and the ability to let go of the past and move forward into the brighter future we’ve hoped for.
Because of this transformation that has taken place in our lives, we no longer have to right all of the wrongs we’ve done or think about the things we could have done differently in the past. The slate has been wiped clean. The old things have passed away. They’re completely gone, and we’re completely forgiven.
Our old nature, with all its faults and the weight of our sin nature, no longer defines who we are. Instead, we’re defined by the love of Christ, which has taken root in our hearts. It’s this love that empowers us to leave behind the guilt, shame, and mistakes of the past, allowing us to walk in the freedom of God’s grace. As new creations in Christ, we now live for the glory of God. We’re no longer bound by our sinful nature and are set free to reflect His light in the world. What an incredible gift!
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Behold All Things Have Become New
Now with the help of the Holy Spirit within us, we can see the world through spiritual eyes.
All things have become new. That includes us and the way we see the world. Our relationship with worldly things has transformed just like we have. Instead of valuing what the world offers, things like money, status, or a perfect body, we value what God values.
His ideas are a little different from our own.
God cares about people first, and He looks at the heart, the very core of who we are. He wants to know what’s in our hearts and the things that make us uniquely us. He wants to share a close bond with us and give us a strengthened faith for the future ahead.
Through our new nature, we begin to live the Christian life with a fresh perspective. Just as a beautiful butterfly emerges from its cocoon, shedding its old self, we’ve also emerged into a brand new life in Christ, flying free with confidence in this new way of living. What once mattered so much to our old self now fades in comparison to the riches of God’s grace.
God wants to build a close, loving relationship with each of us. He wants to strengthen our faith and guide us as we embrace the future He has planned. In this brand new life, we can let go of the worldly things we once held dear, knowing we’re called to a higher purpose, to reflect God’s love, and to live for His glory. What an exciting journey we’re on with Him!
The Spiritual Blessing of God’s Hand of Grace
In the nail-scarred hands of the Savior, we find the ultimate gift… eternal life. Through His sacrifice, Jesus has given us a new opportunity to live for the glory of the Lord instead of for ourselves. It’s an amazing thing to know His hands, once pierced for our transgressions, are now reaching out to us, offering forgiveness, redemption, and a new life filled with great joy!
This second chance is more than a fresh start, it’s an invitation to live with purpose and passion, to become more like Him each day. As we walk with God’s hand guiding us, we can break free from our past mistakes and embrace the future He has prepared for us. Because with every step, we experience the deep joy that comes from knowing we’re loved, redeemed, and forever secure in His grace.
What a privilege it is to be molded into the likeness of Christ! With His hand upon us, we have the strength and confidence to navigate life’s challenges, always trusting that He’s with us, leading us into the fullness of His love.
A Fresh Start This Year
As we begin a new year, the Apostle Paul reminds us of the fresh start we’ve been given in Christ in this scripture…
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4 NKJV
This new birth in Christ offers us a new perspective on the year ahead. The old way of living, full of the struggles and habits we once followed, can be left behind. We have a new life that isn’t limited by our past. Instead, we can embrace the hope that comes from following Jesus and the brand new person we are in Him.
Just as Paul speaks of being raised with Christ, we can walk confidently into the next year with a new heart that’s open to His leading. Every day we have the opportunity to let go of the old way of living and experience the transformation that comes from walking in the newness of life He offers. What a powerful reminder that this year, through Christ, we truly can have a fresh start!
A Biblical New Year Resolution
The biblical resolution in 2 Corinthians 5:17 isn’t like the typical New Year’s resolutions we usually make. Instead of a handwritten list of goals we hope to accomplish next year, we have a renewed sense of what has already been done for us. And we can see it clearly in the nail-scarred hands of our Savior!
Where will the new year take us?
My prayer is, we’ll see through our spiritual eyes the future God has in store for us. That we’ll grow closer to Him than ever before. And remember all Jesus has done to make us a new creation in Him!
So, as you’re making your resolutions this year and striving to maintain them, I encourage you to think about the things you can do to improve your spiritual life, as well as those that will improve your personal life.
With that in mind, I’ll leave you with this Bible verse we all know so well and the one I will be thinking about as I write my spiritual New Year’s resolutions…
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God has a plan for you in the new year! A wonderful plan to give you hope and peace. And most of all to have a loving relationship with you. May the message of hope found in this scripture from Jeremiah 29 encourage your heart and strengthen your faith today!
Happy New Year! May God bless you as you let your light shine for Him!
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