Tag Archives: Dedication

Christian Living

70 RESOLUTIONS — BOB PRICHARD

Many consider Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) the greatest American theologian and philosopher of the eighteenth century. He graduated from Yale University as valedictorian at 17, and became the president of Princeton University at 54, only to die shortly thereafter from a tainted smallpox vaccination. Best known for his 1741 sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” he was effective as an evangelist. His books include A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God, The Nature of True Virtue, Original Sin and others.

At the age of 19, he wrote out 70 resolutions that were to govern his life and ministry. Some include:

“Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.

Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but improve it the most profitable way I can.

Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

Resolved, Never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

Resolved, to study the scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.”

If you make resolutions, you might want to give some consideration to Edwards’ resolutions. What we do with our lives is in our own hands. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Christian Living

“CHURCHILL DISSES AMERICA” — BOB PRICHARD

Few individuals contributed more to the allied victory over Hitler in World War II than Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain. He recognized the Nazi threat, and then the Soviet threat, when few others did. Many of his decisions were questioned, but ultimately he was vindicated in most of them. Andrew Roberts saw a different side of Churchill by examining the diaries of King George VI. He found that while Churchill was often publicly very supportive of Franklin Roosevelt and the Americans, he was very critical privately. He promoted Anglo-American unity because it served Britain’s interest, and allowed Britain to survive the war.

Roberts suggests two characteristics shown throughout Churchill’s political career: “The first was his capacity ruthlessly to sacrifice the trivial and the short-term for the greater prize. The second was his powerful sense of personal and national destiny” (Andrew Roberts, “Churchill Disses America,” Smithsonian, November 2018, 10-16).

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Wasn’t Jesus telling us that sacrificing the trivial and the short-term for the greater prize is what we should be all about as the servants of Christ. Paul certainly understood this. After he recounted all of the things that he could claim, things the world prizes, he turned his back on them.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ (Philippians 3:8-9).

He then went on to speak of the choice he had made:

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

Not only must we seek the greater prize, we also should recognize we “are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). First century Christians were accused of turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6). It is our task to continue doing this. That is our “destiny” as a royal priesthood serving our Master.