Resolve

But rather resolve this…Romans 14:13

This is the only place in the New Testament the word ‘resolve’ appears and only in the New King James Version of Romans 14:3: Let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

The King James Version translation is more literal: Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this… The NIV uses translates the second judge with ‘make up your mind.’ Other translations use the word decide instead of resolve to translate judge. Each version captures the meaning: instead of judging each other help one another to not stumble and fall. 

For this reason, we do not enter heaven immediately after being born anew. But rather, we grow in grace. We were certainly fully prepared to enter heaven, but if we had, we would have missed out on the many blessings God had in mind. Having been perfected for eternity with God, we would have been most welcome. But there was much for us to do. Which, when you think about it answers the nagging question, why am I here? Since our victory is already secure, why must we tarry on earth’s battle ground? Such is God’s grace.

Paul expands, verse 8: For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. While we long to be with Jesus in His glory, we also long to do His will. 

Serving Jesus is serving with Jesus. We are His. Even so, we do not just work for Him, we work with Him. Such is grace. This we say as we ponder our new year’s resolutions: whatever we do, we do to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved…Ephesians 1:8