As 2021 comes to an end, our minds quite naturally anticipate all that might happen in the twelve months of the New Year. Days like today are typically characterized by the contemplation of resolutions, proposed changes, alterations, and renewed commitments and goals that will improve our lives as time marches forward.

I believe it is a very good and wise thing to consider what we might do better, more faithfully, or with greater zeal as the New Year commences. This is especially vital as we consider our corporate life together as the Body of Christ, and as individual disciples of the Lord Jesus as well.

For several weeks now, a passage from the Epistle to the Philippians has been on my heart as I have pondered the end of 2021 and the start of 2022. While certainly not thinking of New Year’s resolutions, Paul was surely contemplating what should be the main focus of his life, and that of all the redeemed of Christ. Consider what he wrote in Philippians 3:10–

“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death.”

For the imprisoned Apostle of Christ, the greatest aim of his life was to “know” the One he called “Christ Jesus my Lord” (3:8).

If I could be permitted to speculate a bit, I would venture that if Paul had written down a New Year’s resolution, it would be this very thing. He would simply seek to “know” His Lord!

For the next two Sunday’s we are going to take this passage from Philippians as our sermon text. And we will prayerfully walk with the Apostle as he explains what this could mean; that he would “know” Christ Jesus his Lord. I believe that in these inspired words we will discover the best New Year’s resolution of all!