I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Jeremiah 31:34b

New Year’s resolutions are promises we make to ourselves to do things differently and make positive changes in our lives. Although we usually mean well and intend to keep the resolutions, these annual promises are not always kept.

God resolved to establish a covenant with His people but not like the old covenant that Israel had broken. It was a new covenant promise, and God always keeps His promises! This new covenant of forgiveness was fulfilled through the death and resurrection of Jesus. When we receive the Lord’s Supper, we hear Jesus speak of the covenant promise: “This is my body … this is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). Cleansed from sin, we resolve with the help of the Holy Spirit to forgive others as we have been forgiven.

Carol Geisler
Orange, CA

Lord Jesus, help me as I resolve to follow You each day. Amen.

Reflect: After receiving Holy Communion, give thanks to God for His new covenant of forgiveness.

Read: Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Matthew 26:26-29