Can I see a show of hands of all the people who have made this New Year’s Resolution: “This year, I’m gonna get myself together. I’m gonna do this and that, and such and so. I’m going to get it together”. You’ve probably set some lofty goals for yourself and “getting it together” could mean so many different things for different people. The bottom line is all of us want to be better. The problem is, we said the same thing last year!
When are we going to realize that we can’t get ourselves together, that’s why we needed Jesus! If we could do it on our own, it would have been done already. But be encouraged; your goals, desires, dreams , hopes, and plans can be achieved. The day we accepted Christ we gave up all rights and privileges to ourselves and turned everything over to Him. We no longer belong to ourselves, so we are not responsible for any renovations. That’s the owner’s responsibility —with our permission.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
1Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)
Where we go wrong is when we try to offer renovations to ourselves without any input from the owner, God our Father. That’s why it seems sinners are doing better than Christians. Their father Satan is hooking them up, while many of us won’t allow the Father to do what He desires.
Jesus has already purchased the building materials, He has the manpower standing by. The contractor has been lined up. They’re just waiting for permission to start your extreme makeover. In order for the process to begin, it takes the giving of oneself completely. Psalmist William McDowell has a song that says:
I give myself away
I give myself away so you can use me
My life is not my own; to you I belong
I give myself, I give myself to you
Let’s resolve this year as the year of giving…..ourselves.
