Putting on Christ in 2018

In case you hadn’t already heard, a new year is here. 2018 has arrived!

I might as well ask the unoriginal and cliché question that you’ve probably heard a thousand times since yesterday: What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2018?

However, I’d rather ask this question: Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions from 2017? What about from 2016? What about from the past five years?

True Confessions

Honestly, I’d rather not answer that question myself because I don’t have a good answer for you. Last year, one of my goals was to use up one old item from our pantry every week. I may have done that 10 times.

There are so many things that I could be doing better. Making New Year’s resolutions can be depressing because it reminds me how flawed I am. I could probably come up with dozens of ways to be a better Christian. Instead, I try to ignore my sins.

What sins have you conveniently forgotten about? Have you always struggled with controlling your temper? Eating too much? Clinging too tightly to your dreams? Not evangelizing? Skipping church frequently? Wearing clothes that cause your brothers in Christ to stumble? Talking badly about people behind their backs? Rushing into choices that you always regret later?

The list goes on and on. What’s the one sin you can’t seem to conquer?

One Thing at a Time

If I could give you one piece of advice during this time of year (which I’m simultaneously giving to myself), it would be this: Pick a Bible verse that will help you keep your resolution in 2018 and put that verse everywhere.

Make it the wallpaper on your phone. Tape it to your mirror. Put it in your car. Write it in on the covers of your binders and journals. Stick it to your fridge.

We can’t get rid of our sin nature, but we can learn to live in our new nature. The Holy Spirit shapes us to become more like Christ. But we can’t be shaped if we forget who we need to be.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14 ESV)

Friends, 2018 doesn’t have to be another year of unsuccessful resolutions—if we remember to put on Christ. Happy New Year!