A Blessed New Year in Our Lord

None of us know for a certainty what is on the horizon for each of us, this New Year, other than we are the children of our great and loving God, who sent us His Son, so that we might believe and live in Him. All things considered, it doesn’t really get much better than that. I do know that I have much to be thankful for. I do know that I have been given, much much more than I have ever given. There is but one word that personifies the many gifts that have been bestowed upon us who believe and that one word is grace, God’s totally undeserved grace, made possible through the demonstrated love of God, through the shed blood of His only begotten Son, on that cross, so long ago.

Yet that was not the end, in fact, it was but the beginning of all that Jesus said would follow. And we are now moving into the thick of it, and quite frankly, what we see unfolding, does not, in and of itself, give us reason for much hope, unless our hope is in Jesus. I don’t think I have ever appreciated the value of that hope that I have in Jesus, as I do now. And the trials that I personally face, are insignificant, as compared to what many others face. 

Insignificant, yet real enough, as I am sure the trials that you face are real enough too. Loved ones who have left us, loved ones who are still unsaved, loved ones who are suffering and so many destructive forces whirling around us, that it sometimes becomes difficult, just keeping track of them all. Yet here again, our God is unwavering and constant throughout. Our peace truly resides in Him.

Look beyond the discord, and the anger. Look beyond the exultation of self over others, and the greed and the distain. If we do not add to that discord, or anger, or greed and distain, and walk humbly in His steps, in His truth, we will do well, regardless of what unfolds around us. Yet, without Jesus, without Jesus, we can, in and of ourselves, do none of this. 

He is our Saviour.
He is our rock.
He is our source.
He is our comfort.
He is our peace.
He is our strength.
He is our glory.
He is our hope.

Romans 8:35-39 NASB
“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Let us continue to do good as often as we are able. Let us honour our Lord and trust in His grace.

A blessed New Year to one and all!

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!