Jonathan Edwards and Resolutions (43): You Are Not Your Own

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12, 1723.

Commentary

In a country and time where autonomy, empowerment, and independence are golden calves, the Scriptures teach otherwise.

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV)

30 He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30 NKJV)

These along with the testimony of the whole counsel of God's Word is the underpinning of Edward's 43rd resolution. As Christians, we belong to the Lord. God created us. He is the Potter, we are the moldable clay (Romans 9:21). This means that as Christians we behave in such a way that ascribes the glory God already possesses. We live in such a way that testifies to the reality that we were bought with a price- the righteous blood of Jesus. We are, as Edwards says, "entirely and altogether God’s".

So we are faced with a question we must ask ourselves. Are we living as a blood bought people? What we think about, get upset about, post about, spend our time doing are good indicators of our allegiance. What are your habits, friend? Elsewhere Edwards said, "we are our habits."