Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ.
For this very first Sunday of the new year, and the second Sunday after Christmas, it feels right to remind ourselves we have the only God with us and He will return to gather us one day.
A bit of this is on this week’s lectionary so let’s start there. Read these six verses out loud.
John 1:1-5 & 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory,
the glory of the one and only Son,
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
That One and Only Son:
Matthew 1:20b-21
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
“He will save his people from their sins.”
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This is one thing Jesus, our Christ, the Messiah, told the disciples before He died and rose again.
John 14:1-3
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
The promise “I will come back and take you to be with Me.” Oh how we should all be expecting Him. He’s looking for your faith. Hold onto your confidence, that faith. Share it, grow it, experience it, work it. The future is always so good for those who are in Christ Jesus. Make sure you are.
Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus we’re here to encourage our faith. We want to know You and have our confidence strengthened in the knowledge of You. Thank You for these words and this day. I give You all the glory. Draw us close, Lord. In Your holy and precious name, I pray. Amen.