I was excited when I received the opportunity to review the book “The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards” by Steven J. Lawson because earlier in the year the devotional I use (Tabletalk) had some articles about Jonathan Edwards and I made a mental note to find a book about him. This book examines Edwards life, his theology, and his legacy. Jonathan Edwards was a puritan preacher during the early 1700′s and is thought of as “the theologian of the First Great Awakening.” He is considered one of the greatest theologians our country has ever produced and is well known for his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” I remember studying him in church history class in high school but never considered reading about him on my own until recently. What intrigued me the most about Jonathan Edwards was his passion for holy living and as a late teenager he began writing a list of resolutions for how he would live a holy life. This list of resolutions ended up totaling 70 and he evaluated himself by them each week as well as kept a diary of his progress in his pursuit of holiness. This book reviews many of these resolutions and discusses what Edwards journals reveal about what he learned about himself, the struggles he had in putting his sin to death, and God’s sanctifying work in his life. At first glance it may seem like a list of legalistic pursuits to try and earn God’s favor. But for Edwards this was not the case. His entire life centered around bringing glory to God and that was the reason for his writing his list of resolutions. I know I frequently attempt to write a list of things in my life that I want to improve or fruits of the spirit I need to demonstrate but I never seem to give it my all as Jonathan Edwards did. Yet he never forgot that he could not do anything without God working through him as is seen by the introduction he wrote to his list “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.” Here is a sample of a few of his life long resolutions: “1) Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever. 7)Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life. 67) Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.” This book has given me the opportunity to not only read about Edwards list of resolutions, but also to learn more about his life, his writings, his pastorate and his theology. There are many books written to instruct Christians in how to live a Godly life but this one shows someone who did live a Christ-like life, who resolved to grow in holiness, who trusted God’s work in his life to that end and who did it all for God’s glory. May that be my aim as well.