Mind-Renew Monday: Resolutions

Good Morning.

It's the middle of February. Are you still going strong with your New Year's Resolutions or have you given up?

Years ago, I stopped making resolutions and started setting goals.

I found some interesting statistics on Forbes. Many of us will have already given up on our New Year's Resolutions by the second week in January, but the rest of us usually give up between February and March.

When we think of resolutions, we think about how eventually we will be giving up.

But I wondered... This year I began to consider the word, "Resolution", and what it means.

Resolution - the state or quality of being resolute; firm, determined

Resolute - Firm or determined; unwavering

Resolutely - In a resolute manner; with a fixed purpose. with perseverance

Here's a fun story from history:

The desk the United States president sits behind in the oval office is called the "Resolute Desk". It was given to President Rutherford B. Hayes, as a gift from Queen Victoria in 1880.

The HMS Resolute was a wooden ship which belonged to the British Royal Navy. It was abandoned in the Arctic in 1854 while searching for the lost expedition of Sir John Franklin. Later, in 1855, she was found by an American whaling ship adrift in the Davis Strait. She was repaired and returned to England as a goodwill gesture.

She was decommissioned in 1879 and broken up. A competition was held to design and build furniture from her timbers. A table was fashioned for Queen Victoria's yacht and you-guessed-it, a desk was made which Queen Victoria gave to the US President.

At this point, President Hayes had it placed in a room on the second story of the White House.

Records show that Eisenhower held his radio and television broadcasts from behind this desk.

It was First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, who had the desk moved to the oval office. Then when President Kennedy was assassinated, the desk went on his memorial tour before it was returned to the oval office.

So, what do you think of when you think of the Resolute Desk? Do you think of wishy-washy decisions, changing your mind, or backing off a commitment?

Exactly. Me, neither.

So, I wondered if the Bible has anything to say about resolutions.

The word is the Greek 2722, katecho, The word catechism comes from this word. It means to hold fast, hold back, hinder, arrest, take possession of, lay hold of restrain. It's the hold of a ship, it means to keep your head, to keep secure, and to keep firm possession of. Also, do you see the word "echo" in the Greek word?

So, where is it used in the Bible?

When I think of holding fast, my brain automatically thinks about the book of Hebrews. These are my study notes:

Chapter 3 begins with "therefore" which is a term of conclusion, so I looked back to chapter 2 check my context.

Therefore, because He (Jesus) has become a merciful and faithful high priest...

Where do you see "resolute" on this page?

That's right, where it says, "hold fast". To hold fast is a bold resolve.

Where do you see a resolution on this page?

That's right, verse 14.

What are we holding fast?

Until when?

What does it mean if we don't?

What, in verse 19, is synonymous here with the word "disobedience" from verse 18?

Then, from Chapter 10. Context is what Jesus has done as our high priest.

(it would be beneficial to read the chapters we're skipping for context, if you find time)

Where do we find our vocabulary word in Chapter 10?

That's right. Verse 23.

"Hope" in the Bible is never wishful thinking. It is a guarantee of what is to come. We just haven't laid hold of it yet.

So, what do you think? Do we use the word how it is intended? Or, is there so much more?

Have a great day!