Jan. 23rd - Resolve

Resolve - "to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine". I remember growing up in the Baptist church singing a song about resolve.
"I am resolved no longer to linger charmed by the worlds delight.
Things that are higher, things that are nobler, these shall allure my sight."
A definite and earnest decisiveness and determined attitude is certainly a nobler and much prized commodity in today's culture. It's a shame that resolve has been raised to a noble quality. It should be in our DNA.
Our forefathers were resolved. That's what brought them to our shores. Because of their resolve in the pursuit of freedom from England's dominion, they paid whatever price to keep what they worked so hard to obtain.
This tenacious attitude has been around a lot longer than 1776. I think of a man by the name of Shammah. His resolve is revealed in 2 Samuel 23:8-12. He was one of Davids "mighty men".
He stood all alone in a field of lintels and "stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory."
It's interesting to note that Shammah's "close friends" felt led to leave the lentils. "...so the people fled from the Philistines." They must have missed David's four part sermon series on "The Rewards of Resolve"!
Not Shammah. He stationed himself all by himself in the midst of the field. Now that's resolve.
You might ask, "Why would a bean patch be worth risking your life for?" What we need to understand is this, "If you give an inch, they will take a mile". In other words, if you let down your resolve in what some might say insignificant and unimportant arenas, you'll eventually compromise in other areas of more importance. You'll give up ground.
Have you given up any ground lately?
Have you compromised your field with Philistine influence?
Have you allowed others lack of resolve to infect your inner territory of determination and tenacity?
It's time to take a stand.
It's time to station ourselves.
It's time to take back what you've forfeited.
It's time for some resolve!
God blesses righteous resolve. May it be said in behalf of all who read this today and chose to station themselves with an attitude of righteous resolve in the field of God's choosing...
"So the Lord brought about a great victory".

Meet you here in the morning,
Sam

Suggested Reading:
Proverbs 23
2 Timothy 4

Quote of the Day: "Every man dies, not every man really lives." - William Wallace