New Year’s resolutions are usually starting to fail by now. We see something in our lives that we would like to change and the beginning a of new year has become the traditional time to try to do that. We start with all kinds of good intentions, but in a short time we find ourselves falling back into our old ways. We get frustrated and decide that we can’t do it now, but we will try again sometime.

As that is the way of all humans, we Christians have to admit that we are no better. The greatest thing in our lives that we want to change is our disobedience to God; otherwise known as sin. To make such a change is called repentance. More than just having remorse and saying we are sorry, we promise to do better, to try to change, to work to amend our sinful lives.

We can have all kinds of good intentions, but we keep falling back into our sinful ways. Here the problem is not just a matter of will power. We cannot help but fail because the tendency to be sinfully disobedient is a part of us. It is not a habit, but a part of our very being. It became a part of us when Adam and Eve first committed sin by eating the forbidden fruit. None of their descendants can change that fact. The result is that all who trust in their will power, their desire to change and think that they can overcome their sinfulness on their own will be left facing the consequences of their sins; eternal death in Hell.

Knowing our weaknesses we can be tempted to give up. It all seems so useless. We can’t overcome our sinfulness. That is the time we need to be reminded that as we cannot do it on our own, God has done everything for us to deal with our sinfulness. Sins have to be paid for, they cannot be ignored. The cost of sin is death. Blood has to be fatally shed to cover all the sins we commit.

God’s son, Jesus Christ, volunteered to make such a sacrifice for us. He willingly took on our form, and as one of us, died a cruel death on a cross. His was the perfect sacrifice that paid for the sins of all people of all time. Not only has His death and resurrection saved us from Hell, it also gives us the means to try to do better.

As we still confess our sins and promise to amend our sinful lives Jesus gives us the desire to try to do better. To know that even in our failures He will still forgive us. That motivates us to not give up. He has fully accomplished our salvation and now in response to all that He has done for us we seek to live in keeping with His will.

For help to never forget what He has done and to keep trying to live for Him, please visit or contact St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fredonia (672-6731) or stpaullcfredonia@outlook.com), Immanuel Lutheran Church, Gowanda (532-4342), or Trinity Lutheran Church, Silver Creek (934-2002).