The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

Do you stay up late to watch the New Year begin? Long ago churches had what was called “Watch Night Service.” These always included watching a film on the old reel projector (only one or two of our teachers knew how to get the film into the noisy old projector!) Of course we had food and some fellowship time. We then would sing, have testimonies, and I would share a devotional message from the Bible. I wonder if any churches ever have these anymore? It was a nice tradition.

Speaking of tradition, I read an interesting article from the Old Farmers Almanac on how people celebrate the New Year arriving.

In China, firecrackers are set off to rout the forces of darkness.
In Denmark, people throw plates and glasses against each other’s front doors to banish bad spirits.
In Spain, people attempt to eat 12 grapes during the 12 strokes of midnight for “good luck.”
In Switzerland, dollops of whipped cream, symbolizing the richness of the year to come, are dropped on the floors.

Bless their hearts. People all around the world have their traditions.

For those of us who know the Lord Jesus, we conclude this year and look ahead with this powerful goal.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

I can’t think of a better way to wrap up 2023 and to begin 2024

Many of us get a little on the reflective side as one year concludes and another year begins. The older one grows the faster time seems to be flying by.

I have been reflecting a little before I am writing this. I’ve been thinking back over my personal life. There have been times that I would say my life has not been easy, but I can tell you and testify that the Lord God is fully trustworthy, and His peace is incredible. It doesn’t mean that we don’t have hurts, disappointments, times of uncertainty or difficulties. However, what a difference He makes!

Let me take you back to something I wrote in 2014. It is still very true today.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3-4).

Trusting the Lord in the good times is easy. Maybe I ought to say easier! But genuine trust is best experienced and demonstrated in the difficult times. As a former pastor, I have stood by the hospital bedside of hundreds and hundreds of believers and encouraged them to trust the Lord as He would see them through.

Then I had the situation of having the roles reversed. In seven years I underwent five very major back surgeries. Especially before one of the more difficult surgeries, I had several moments of being alone. Lying on the surgical gurney, I personally discovered once again that “perfect peace” comes from having my “mind stayed on Him.” The wonderful truth of keeping your mind focused on the Lord, His greatness and faithfulness, as well as His abiding love and goodness, does not have to be reserved for the big, major times. It works in those times, but it also works in the everyday living as a believer.

For today: Do you know the Lord as your Savior? Then you can trust Him and enjoy His precious peace.

Yesterday we spoke of dear folks who live their lives in fearfulness and fretfulness. Let’s think just a little more about this as we experience the concluding days of 2023 and anticipate the beginning days of 2024.

Let me share a wonderful verse and then a few thoughts about it.

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Don’t be confused by the word “hope.” This is not the same word that we might use when saying that we hope it won’t rain today. In our text the word “hope” is not a wishful statement. The word that the Apostle Paul used is elpis which means “a joyful expectation.”

This is a word of confidence and assurance. God gives to His children the confident expectation that He will do everything that He says He will do. He will accomplish everything that He has purposed will come to pass. This gives us joy and peace in believing.

That’s what Everett and Paulette discovered in their newfound faith. In fact, Paulette was overheard telling her pastor, “Ernie used to worry about everything. What a change has come into his life now that he knows Christ as his Savior. Even when things were hard at work this past week, he had such a joy in being confident in the Lord.”

How does this impact you and me? If you know Christ as Savior, then you know the God of all hope. He wants to fill you with joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in this confidence. It doesn’t mean that you will never be concerned about things. It doesn’t mean that you will not experience stress from time to time. It simply means that God wants to strengthen your joyful expectation in Him. Joy and peace is what the world so greatly desires. I wish everyone would discover that joy and peace found in Christ.

Sometimes I hear people fretting about the terrible condition of our country and the mess that the world seems to be in right now. Please believe me. I care deeply. I really do. Sometimes I hear people fretting about health situations. Please believe me. I care deeply. I really do.

But friends, I have to tell you about a wonderful verse that I learned years ago that has really, really helped me a lot. Have I “perfectly” learned and fulfilled this verse? No. But has it blessed, settled, and strengthened me? Yes! Let me share it with you and then relate a story that happened to me years ago, back when I was traveling every weekend in ministry. Here’s the verse.

“Be not afraid of sudden fear” (Proverbs 3:25).

Our fears sometimes are totally irrational. All of us at one time or another have been fearful of something that never happened. Here’s an illustration of this.

I remember this incident very clearly. The plane was nearly full as we headed out of Cleveland that day. As the 737 turned onto the runway, the engines roared as faster we rolled and soon were lifting off, banking left and heading out over Lake Erie.

To my amazement, the elderly lady sitting next to me grabbed my arm and loudly announced to me, “I’m afraid. I’m afraid.” For the next several minutes she was in sheer terror clinging to my arm. Her fear was beyond description. When our turn was complete, and we headed back over land, she said, “There. I feel much better now. If we crash, it will be fine. When we were over the water, if we crashed, I can’t swim!”

Bless her heart. If we crashed over land or crashed over water, it wouldn’t make much difference. Secretly I smiled to myself. Come to think of it, some people live their lives with such irrational fear. They are afraid that maybe something dreadful or terrifying might come someday, and they miss out on the peace and contentment of trusting Him.

This is the challenge for you and me today: Trust in the Lord today. Don’t let the possibility of “maybe” rob you of the joys of reality.

So many people are searching for peace.

Believers possess the very best kind of peace available. Think of what the Bible says about this.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

What a powerful lesson in Theology lies in this simple but stunning statement penned by the Apostle Paul. Through faith in Christ alone, the tremendous blessing of justification takes place. Some like to make the statement that justification is “just as if I never sinned.”

Sounds good, doesn’t it? The problem is that justification is much, much better than never sinning. That would only be innocence. In justification, God acquits the believer of the verdict of condemnation and declares that one to be righteous in Christ.

You cannot buy this, earn this, find this, nor can you merit this. It is only through faith in Christ. Peace with God is such an incredible blessing. It does not mean that we are unmoved by situations around us. It does, however, mean that regardless of circumstances, we can have that wonderful quiet assurance that flows from the action of justification.

Here’s something I am going to be doing today: I want to thank the Lord often for His amazing justification through Christ. This takes place by faith alone in Christ alone. Do you know Him?