A new year inspires new resolutions and new hope, but I am living, and in prayer - for something old.

The prophet Jeremiah urged his country to return to God by remembering and re-living its history: "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'" (Jeremiah 6:16).

Like all prophets, Jeremiah stressed faithfulness to the divine covenant that God had instituted with Israel and warned it of judgment as the consequences of disobedience. The “ancient path” and “good way” were God’s revealed word to Israel for its blessing and rest. By obeying its terms, the nation would model a God-centered character and fulfill its destiny as a witness to lead other nations to God.

Jeremiah’s call is no less urgent today. Primarily, we respond in two ways: First, we recommit ourselves to live obediently to the revealed word of God. Jesus taught that men and women were not meant to exist on ordinary bread alone or, for that matter, for physical appetites or earthly possessions - but on God’s word. Therefore, we live for essence of Scripture: to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). Second, we respond to Jeremiah’s call by living obediently to the incarnate word of God, Jesus Christ. Like the revealed word that offered rest to Jeremiah’s generation, Jesus himself promises rest: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Therefore, as followers of Jesus, we obey his commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Finally, we also return to the “ancient path” and “good way” by emulating those followers of Christ who walked it before our time. We must make special effort to follow their lead as the apostle Paul urged the Corinthians to follow him (1 Corinthians 11:1). “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9). In his book, The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard has issued a similar call: “The only forward for the people of Jesus today is to reclaim for today the time-tested practices by which the disciples through the ages have learned . . . to build their life upon the rock.”

My promise for 2008 is inspired by the history of great Christians such as Moravian leader Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) and the era of missionary expansion he and other Moravians pioneered. His model of prayer, Christ-centered devotion and fellowship, and lifelong commitment to mission is my resolution for 2008 and beyond. Count Zinzendorf said, “I have but one passion, ‘tis He, ‘tis only He.” When he was 34 years old, he was still able to say after two decades of serving Christ that “my zeal has not cooled.”

The good way and ancient path is to forever follow the lead of Christ and those in line with him. 

In brotherly love,

George Lee