HELEN SANDERS
6-1-2025
RESOLVE

When a person has resolve in their life, the dictionary says that they have decided firmly on a course of action.

One such person in the scriptures was the Apostle Paul. He had great resolve to finish his course after fighting the good fight of faith. Paul knew that his time on earth was coming to a close. His last days were writing letters to Timothy instructing him in the way of a resolved life.

In 2 Timothy 4 Paul writes telling Timothy that the time would come that many would not endure sound doctrine and would have itching ears. It would be a very hard time for Timothy. In spite of these difficult conditions Paul told him in verse 2 to: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” This was not a charge to sit quietly with ones hands folded waiting for the end to come. This was a charge to Timothy to be about the Father’s business in spite of his circumstances.

One might say, “You don’t know how hard things are for me.” Hard? Most have never had it as hard as Paul. He was beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, hated, imprisoned, and then died for the cause of Christ. He was resolved!

2 Timothy 4:6-7 tells us Paul’s state of mind. It says, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure [death] is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Paul knew his time was about up in this earthly realm.

Paul was in prison but still wrote many epistles. Paul was shipwrecked but in the midst of that he saved lives. Paul is the one that has given us most of the New Testament, written under duress.

When we, as the body of Christ, have that kind of resolve, the world will change. Are you resolved to finish your course with all you have? As a Christian, resolve means you give it all you have so you can complete your course faithfully. I pray you are doing just that.