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Before we leave January, 2025, we must take a look at the New Year’s resolutions we made.  January 10, 2025 is National Quitters Day.  This day was so named because many people who make New Year’s resolutions do not keep them.  In fact, only 8% of Americans actually keep the resolutions that they make.  Making New Year’s resolutions is a tradition that goes back 4,000 years.  While a long-standing tradition, it lacks substance in bringing about real change in the lives of people.  One person said, “I can’t believe it’s been a year since I didn’t become a better person.”  Another remarked, “Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life” (Robin Sharma).  Both comments rebuke a lack of real growth in personal life and character.  After all, making New Year’s resolutions is all about making decisions that will change our lives for the better.  Someone else said, “I don’t need a New Year’s resolution.  It’s the year’s turn to get better.”  Another person thought that making more realistic resolutions would help.  Here are some of them:  “I will get slightly older each day”; “I will eat more cheese”; “I will muddle through each day.”  Obviously, lowering the bar is not a good pathway for self-improvement.
New Year’s resolutions involve making life changing choices that enable self-improvement.  The reason most fail is the lack of discipline and commitment involved in success.  If most fail to keep New Year’s resolutions, then,  that would indicate most do not have the self-discipline and commitment to follow through.  This means that we have serious character flaws that hinder personal growth.  Perhaps our New Year’s resolutions should target this deficiency.
The greatest decision that we can make toward self-improvement is to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus challenges us to “deny self and take up our cross and follow him” (Matt. 6:24).  Self-denial means that we renounce the old self, the old man of sin, and turn to God.  We are called to repentance (Acts 2:38; 3:19).  We must repent of our sins, put to death the old man of sin (Rom. 6:6).  We stop serving sin and we begin to serve the Lord in the pursuit of righteousness.  Peter states that the “lusts of the flesh” “war against the soul” (I Pet. 2:11).  Peace within can only come when we have been forgiven of our sins and turn away from sin which destroys the soul.  We obtain forgiveness of our sins when we are baptized into Christ.  “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).  Our sins are washed away by the power of the blood of Christ when we obey the command to be baptized (Acts 22:16).  When we are cleansed of sin (forgiven), we are justified before God and are “washed and sanctified (I Cor. 6:11).  We no longer pursue a life of sin (Rom. 6:1-2).  Life in Christ involves a pursuit of righteousness.
The decision to become a New Testament Christian is the most important decision we will ever make.  This decision commits us to a life of discipleship.  We must be willing to endure hardships for the name of Christ and we must be willing to live each day for His glory.  We follow the teachings of Jesus and the example of Jesus just as children who follow in the footsteps of their parents.  We imitate our Lord and seek to please Him in all things.  The change indicated is absolute and complete.  We hold nothing back, but are wholly consecrated to God our Heavenly Father (Rom. 12:1-2).
We might make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight.  Paul indicates that bodily exercise profiteth little.  But, godliness profits for all things and has the promise of eternal life (I Tim. 4:8).  If you really want to change your life for the better, become a New Testament Christian.

The Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 50:1-ff, makes a statement about Jesus that His face was “set like a flint.”
This is a figurative way of stating the quality of being unshakeable.  Isa. 50:7 states, “For the LORD God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”  This statement characterizes the future Messiah of Israel.  Jesus was undaunted by the circumstances that He encountered because He knew God was with Him and He was executing the purposes of God in His ministry.  Jesus demonstrates how to be stedfast, unshakeable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Cor. 15:58).
The First Quality Jesus Possessed Was Oneness With God
Jesus was one with God.  “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).  Jesus was one in nature with the Father and He was one in purpose with the Father.  This meant that He was never alone.  Jesus possessed all of the perfections of deity (Col. 2:9).  He was spiritually one with the Father.  It was the Father’s will that He die on the cross to provide the means of atonement and reconciliation between God and His creature man.  Jesus came to this earth to do the will of the Father with regard to man’s redemption (John 10:17-18).  Nothing would deter Him from obtaining this work.  We, too, can be unshakeable, if we are spiritually united with Christ as a result of our obedience to the gospel.  When we are baptized into Christ, we are united with Him and become spiritually one with Him (Gal. 3:26-29).  This means that we are never alone.  “If God be for us who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).
The Second Quality Jesus Possessed Was Trust in God
Jesus trusted God (I Pet. 2:23).  “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” Jesus was fearless in the face of suffering, persecution, and injustice.  He was mistreated, spat upon, mocked, and ridiculed, yet He remained unshakeable.  His trust was in Him who in invincible.  We, too, can be unshakeable if we put our trust in God. There is not power greater than God!  We go forward in His strength and the power of His might.  Consider the apostle Paul.  Paul faced affliction and bonds in the city of Jerusalem as revealed to others and to him by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:23-24).  Paul states, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”  Paul was unshakeable!  Great faith produces a stedfast heart.
The Third Quality Jesus Possessed Was Love
Jesus loved the Father.  “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.  Arise, let us go hence” (John 14:31).  Jesus’ obedience to the Father’s will was a demonstration of His love for the Father.  Obedience flows from an inner heart of great love and is not merely isolated acts of compliance to God’s will.  The Father loved Jesus.  “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17-18).  The Father’s love for His Son was expressed from heaven on two occasions:  the baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:17) and the transfiguration of Jesus (Matt. 17:5) where the word “beloved” is used.  Love is a most powerful bond that provides strength in the face of all adversity.  We, too, can benefit from the power of love.  Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15, 23).  The blessing of obedience wrought by love is that God and Christ will abide with us.  This fellowship with deity sustains and empowers for Christian living in the face of all trials.
The Fourth Quality Jesus Possessed Was Spiritual Maturity
Jesus manifests the following qualities:  love, faith, meekness, self-control, selflessness, forgiveness, honesty, justice, courage, and wisdom.  He was spiritually mature in character and so spiritually resilient in facing trials and temptations.  Every Christian must strive for mastery of self.  Paul wrote, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:  lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (I Cor. 9:27).  Spiritual discernment is dependent upon spiritual maturity.  “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14).  Spiritual purity is  tied to spiritual maturity.  “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor” (I Thess. 4:4).  We can be unmovable in the face of temptations to sin against God.
With a face “set like a flint” we can live determined, fearless, mature, confident, loving lives anchored in God.  The thoughts from a hymn help affirm what has been demonstrated by Jesus.  The hymn is, “I Shall Not Be Moved.”
Jesus is my savior, I shall not be moved.
In His love and favor, I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters
Lord, I shall not be moved.
In my Christ abiding, I shall not be moved.
In His love I’m hiding, I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters
Lord, I shall not be moved.
If I trust Him ever, I shall not be moved.
He will fail me never, I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters
Lord, I shall not be moved.
On His word I’m feeding, I shall not be moved.
He’s the One’s that leading, I shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters
Lord, I shall not be moved!

In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus encounters three would-be disciples.  Jesus successfully called individuals to follow Him.  That is how He selected the twelve apostles.  However, there were others who wanted to follow Jesus, but were not willing to pay the costs of discipleship.  Jesus was not shy about preparing people for discipleship. While everyone is invited by the Lord to follow Him, not everyone will answer the call.  Discipleship is most rewarding, but, it is also very demanding.  If you are looking for a convenient religion, Christianity is not the one for you.  Yet, it is the only one where you will find salvation (Acts 4:12).  Jesus clearly taught that there were two ways that people travel.  The broad way that leads to destruction and the narrow way that leads to life (Matt. 7:13-14).  Obviously, we choose which pathway we follow.  But, there is only one that leads to everlasting life.
Three Would-Be Disciples
In Luke 9:57-58, we are introduced to a would-be disciple that states, “I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.”  This person seems willing and eager to follow Jesus.  Yet, he/she seems to have a shallow understanding of the cost.  Jesus’ reply was that the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.  Jesus seems to be saying, “don’t underestimate the degree of self-sacrifice involved in discipleship.  When following Jesus we must understand the nature of the pursuit.  We do not serve Him for material gain.  Nor do we serve Him for immediate gratification.  We do not follow Him for what we can get out of it as much as for what we can contribute to the kingdom.  Disciples of Jesus are involved in selfless service for a heavenly reward!
The second would-be disciple says, “Suffer me first to go and bury my father.”  Jewish people took burying their dead very seriously.  It was important and was to be done expeditiously.  Burial was a way of showing respect to the deceased and honoring them.  It was a family duty.  Jesus said, “Let the dead bury the dead.”  Let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead. “But go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”  Preaching the kingdom of God was more important.  Disciples of Jesus must get their priorities right.  Spiritual service in the kingdom of God must not be supplanted by activities that are less important.  In Matt. 6:33, Jesus affirmed that we must seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
The third would-be disciple said, “I will follow thee, but let me go first and bid them farewell which are at my home.”  Most will admit that family ties are important.  Jesus said to this person, “No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  The would-be disciple made the mistake of saying that he/she would follow Jesus, but….” “I will, but” introduces a qualification.  If one qualification is permitted, then, why not a dozen, a hundred, or even a thousand?  This view diminishes the level of commitment involved in discipleship and weakens the kingdom.  Think about this, what if everyone in the kingdom of God had the same level of commitment that I have, what would the kingdom of God look like?  A diminished commitment will affect fruitfulness and productivity.  It diminishes perseverance and endurance.  When the Christian life gets difficult, it is easier to abandon it altogether.  Jesus warned about this very thing in the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:20-21).  The stoney ground represented a human heart where the seed does not develop strong roots and when persecution arises, the person falls away.  Paul gives an example of such diminished commitment in Demas who he states had “forsaken me having loved this present world” (II Tim. 4:10).  Disciples of Jesus must not be quitters!
What Can We Conclude About Discipleship?
First, look for spiritual not material gain.  Second, the kingdom of God must come first.  Third, persevere unto the end.  Be strong in your commitment to the Lord.  Never quit.  The commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ must be absolute and never qualified.  There are no excuses for failing to be what God wants us to be.  If we do fail, we must correct this sin in our life and renew our commitment to Christ.  “Follow me” is personal.  The relationship that is created through redemption is secured on His terms not ours.  We must be willing to follow Him wherever He leads without reservations.  The kingdom of God and His righteousness must come first above all else.  We must be finishers not quitters.  Disciples obey Jesus and follow His example in all things.
Are you a would-be disciple of Jesus?  If so, count the cost of following Him.  Also, count the cost of not following Him (John 8:24).  Then, decide.  Once, you commit to following Him, don’t look back!