Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

period."solution"me."ECHOES NUMBERBIBLE LESSONS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 15, 1956WitnessVOLUME LV, NO. 26 TOPEKA, KANSAS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1955Steppinginto a New YearBy Edwin Raymond AndersonA Brand new bundle marked "A New Year" hasbeen placed before us,which contains an assortmentof days. For some of us, there will be more thanothers, but we can only extract one at a time. Wecannot count them all at once, for as the Word of Godreminds us : "What is your life? It is even a vapour,that appeareth for a little time, and then vanishethaway."lA brand new year! We face it, each with ourown thoughts. We think of tomorrow in the lightand shadows of yesterday, sincerely desiring evento the point of earnestly promising ourselves, thatthis year shall tell a better story. For many this willrevolve about the business of RESOLUTIONSthose solemn promises compiled in a long list of do'sand don'ts.A prominent psychology professor has expressed concern over this, because it has become a jokewith most people. After careful study, he has comeup with a 7-stepprogram for success in the endeavor, as follows:1. Do not try to put the resolutions into effect all at onceon the very first day. It would be better to arrange a"preparation2. It would be better to start by drawing up a list of thethings you like to do; the enterprise will become easierin that manner.3. Do not draw up a long list of some 10-30 resolutions;you will be defeated before you begin. Pick up only 1 or2 resolutions at the commencement.4. Do not seek to locate the most troublesome problemnot at the beginning. It will be better to pick out therelativelyminor sore-spots.5. Make your intended resolutions as specific as possible.Do not be too vague, too general; do not try to covertoo much territory.6. When you have decided upon the resolutions,prepare toput them into definite effect. Tell your husband, yourwife, what you plan. Think often of those resolutions.Get them deeply planted in your mind; in that way youwill steel yourself for the job of actually keeping them.7. The job itself, will officially begin on "R-day," the actualdate when you feel ready to start. Then work real hardat it!And if "7" be the number of perfection, thenit is all but bitter irony, for most people sense a"catch"in the program. It reads well, it means well,but where will the actual power come from to gainvictory? Are you not conscious of a deep divisionbetween the desire and the actual doing?You will get small comfort from the Bible, forit is silent on this matter of resolutions. But it criesaloud for the desperate need of a genuine spiritualREVOLUTION in the heart: "Ye MUST be bornagain,"2 "We MUST be saved."3 There is no powerin yourself as you are for the Bible declares thatyou are "dead in trespasses and sins."4 "withoutstrength."5What, therefore, will give the power,grant the enabling to real living on a higher level?Not a 7-step program of human outreach, but asimple, single step of repentence and faith,6 in theLord Jesus Christ.7 This is a long proven reality:"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature."8He who said, "Behold, I make all things new,"9 willthus possess the life in such a gracious way that allthe days will be lived in the wonder of "For to meto live is Chrisf'iO ; and "the life which I now live inthe flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, wholoved me, and gave himself for 11When you are His, this may well be your "refor the days ahead: "This one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I presstoward the mark for the prize of the high callingof God in Christ Jesus."l2Bible Referencesl-James 4:14; 2-John 3:7; 3-Acts 4:12; 4-Ephesians 2:1;5-Romans 5:6; 6-Acts 20:21; 7-Romans 10:9, 10; 8-2 Corinthians 5:17; 9-Revelation 21:5; 10-Philippians 1:21; 11-Galatians2:20; 12-Philippians 3:13, 14.American Tract Society