What would Jesus’ New Year’s resolutions list for us be? We think it would look a lot like this… Thank you to all our members who contributed on Facebook!  God bless you and your family and may 2014 be full of hope and New Life abundant for you.

CDA’s New Year’s Resolutions According to the Gospel

  1. Love all – even the haters. (or as one CDA member put it, “Be kind and forgiving to those that do not understand the meaning of either.”)

Matthew 5:43-45  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

Luke 6:31-33 Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

2. Sow peace in the world and in our personal lives. 

James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

3. Fight for justice, live to promote justice.

Deuteronomy 16:20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.

4. Do all we can do to protect the vulnerable, the safety net, promote equality and fight against excessive greed.

Deuteronomy 27:19 “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Proverbs 14:31 “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

5. Pray for, practice, and promote more compassion and less judgment.

Matthew 7:1-2 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 

Psalm 86:15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.