As another Christmas season winds down, we turn our attention to the fast approaching new year. This week of the year is filled with examining 2018 while looking ahead to and planning for 2019. It can be a time of hope-filled anticipation for all that the next 365 days will hold.
For some of you, the start of a new year doesn’t sound all that bright and exciting. For you, a new year means being reminded of what a grueling year you have just been through. Perhaps it means realizing you’ll have to slog through another tough year of medical trials, family issues, or financial uncertainty? Being in the midst of hardships is so daunting.
We just spent a number of weeks at church talking about and reflecting on the birth of Jesus. The Prince of Peace coming to earth as a baby — lying quietly in a manger so that there could be peace on earth. What a good and comforting Truth. But, if we just let the story stop there (at the birth of our Savior), we miss the powerful ending of the story. The Truth that Jesus is Lord and He is now on His throne!
Recently, Psalm 93 has been on my heart. It is only five verses long so it has been easy to meditate on. It has been so encouraging to remember that it is talking about Jesus — He is the Lord.
“The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty! Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.” — Psalm 93: 1-4 (ESV)
Our Lord REIGNS! His throne is established and shall never be moved. His ways are perfect and trustworthy. Jesus has conquered sin and death and the power of hell has no hold on Him or His people. We can remember that Jesus is for us. As Romans 8:34 says, “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
When we face troubles that have no end in sight we need to remember that Jesus is in control of all things; He is strong and mighty. I don’t want to brush past the many, excruciatingly difficult things that I know some of you are up against. But, we must cling to the Truth that God has a purpose and a good plan for what we are going through (Jeremiah 29:11). We need to place our hope in the fact that God’s mercies are new, faithful, and full of power for us every day and every year (Lamentations 3:22-23).
My prayer for us all is that 2019 would be a year when we are reminded more and more that Jesus is Lord. That we would lean fully into this good Truth. And by doing so, we would draw strength, purpose, and comfort from the Prince of Peace.
Happy New Year and God bless you!
Posted in A Word from the Pastor