Editorial January 1, 1903 Issue

New Year Resolutions

It has been customary, with many persons, to usher in the New Year with sundry good resolutions; but, unfortunately, the world has come to look upon these resolutions as ephemeral, and upon the custom itself as sentimental rather than practical. Notwithstanding the world's opinion, this usage is worthy of consideration.

If, in the past, our good resolutions have failed to receive the support of our best endeavors, and our efforts for reform have not met with success, we should not blame the custom, nor should we doubt our good intentions. Failure probably came because we based our efforts upon human will-power instead of upon the grace of God. Jesus said, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."

Every earnest determination which stands for better and purer living will be fruitful, and every honest desire to follow in our Master's footsteps will improve the individual in character and capacity, but lasting reform can come only through a demonstrable understanding of God and man's relation to Him, an understanding that God is not the author or procurer of evil, and that man is free from the thrall of iniquity which the mesmerism of mortal mind has sought to fasten upon him.

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