Dear church family,
As we begin the new year in 2022 I imagine that many of us may have mixed emotions. On the one hand we may be excited about the year ahead and all the opportunities God will provide, yet on the other hand, we may have concerns such as the anticipated wave of covid-19 cases.
In times like this it is important that we stand firm in our faith and remember that God is sovereign and in control. Nothing surprises him or shocks him or catches him off guard. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. He is the Great I AM! So as we begin this new year together I want to encourage you with a brief devotion from Hebrews 10.
Reading from Hebrews 10:19-25
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Notice that the author starts by reminding us of the incredible threefold position we already have in Christ:
- We are a new family, united together as brothers and sisters in Christ (v.19)
- We have great confidence in directly approaching the living God through Christ (vv.19-20)
- We have Jesus as our great priest over all of God’s house (v.21)
As we think about 2022, let us resolve to face the uncertainty of the year ahead with the certain knowledge of who we already are in Christ!
To help us do this, we are planning three key initiatives for the first part of 2022. This weekend we will begin a new sermon series on the book of Romans to teach us about our identity and righteousness in Christ. Then God willing, we will join together in Busselton for our annual church camp over the March long weekend as we put our faith into practice. Thirdly, following our celebration of Good Friday and Easter Sunday we are planning a mid-week teaching series to help us gain an even deeper and richer understanding of the key doctrines of our faith.
It is always important to remind ourselves of who we are and what we already have in Christ, but notice in Hebrews 10 that after the author explains our position in Christ, he calls us to act in 3 specific ways, each starting with the phrase “Let us…”
- Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings (v.22)
- Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess (v.23)
- Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (v.24)
I am excited about the opportunities the Lord will provide in 2022. It will be a year of transition and change as we adapt to new circumstances, but we will be people who trust in our unchanging God. This is not the time to shrink back in our faith, but to cling wholeheartedly to what we believe. Let’s resolve to face this new year as God’s united people who together draw near to him, hold unswervingly to our faith and spur one another onward and upward in Christ.
I look forward to joining you as we take this journey together in 2022.
Happy New Year
Ray