Who Were those Bible People Who Made Resolutions?

Maybe after reading my entry from yesterday, you're wondering, "Just who were those Bible people who "resolved" to live a certain way?"

Daniel, for one. Daniel 1:8 says:

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."

Purposing in his heart--he was resolved.

Joseph (the supposed father of Jesus),for another. After he found out that Mary was pregnant, he "was minded to put her away privily" (Matt. 1:19).

Was minded--he was resolved.

Paul, too. Acts 19:21 says that "Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Madedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome."

Purposed in the spirit--he was resolved.

Paul, again, advising the Corinthian church. 1 Cor. 10: 14, 31-32:

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. . . . Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God."

Flee . . . do all to the glory of God . . . give none offence: resolve to do these things.

Paul instructing the church at Colosse (Col 3:12-17):

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

All those imperatives--be resolved to do these things.

Paul . . . again. This time, his counsel and heart to the church at Thessalonica:

"To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus my be glofiried in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:11-12).

Every resolve for good--be resolved for good.

So making resolutions is Biblical. There are many more examples that could be cited. Bible men and women have always shown resolve: Joseph, when enticed by Pharaoh's wife, fled from her presence, and was thrown into prison because of her false accusations. Joshua and Caleb, outnumbered by the spies who brought back stories of an enemy that couldn't be defeated, were resolved to stand by the word of God and so encouraged the people to go forward because God had promised them the land. Esther was resolved to speak to the king on behalf of her people, even though she risked her own life in doing so.

There are many more. Search them out for yourself. Hebrews 11 tells about a great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us, men and women of resolve.

Take courage. Live each day to the glory of God. Be resolved.