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The church. A foretaste of heaven in the aftertaste of this world. No other gathered place on earth can substitute for this assemblage designed from heaven. It’s a holy household, a fitting flock, a beautiful body. The church – the place where all Christians belong.

And ‘tis particularly now that the name and person of Jesus be celebrated. Christmastime. O’, how it’s often yearned at the end of each year. Such anticipation, such expectation, such hope. The merriment of the Savior’s birth.

He “brought us peace”. We could even say, “He bought us peace”, and He did so with what He knew was a cross that lie before Him. Jesus became troubled in spirit so that we would not. Again… He became troubled in spirit so that we would not. And, as a result, He gives us what Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones called, “… a quiet heart, a heart at leisure from itself.” He gives us a heart that can be calm, a heart that can be tranquil, still, and unafraid even amid a world where Jesus says we “… will have tribulation”. That’s boundless grace, Jesus’ grace. Unmerited, undeserved, all coming from a heart that is “… gentle and lowly.” Troubled and afraid hearts are all about receiving grace, the grace of Christ, for life after life and life in life.

With all that’s vanished over the last two years, and there’s been much, let’s look up and take hold now more than ever of that which can never be taken away – forgiveness, righteousness, love, peace, life and hope in Jesus.

We Christians know the end of the story while we also live in a world of unfolding drama that spans redemptive history, all right before our very eyes. There are no “if’s”, “and’s” or “but’s” with the promises of God; only “when’s”. And one of the greatest promises of all? Jesus is coming back, and it’s only a matter of “when”. There’s a wedding day coming [cf. Revelation 19:7], and it’s ours. Now is the time for readying ourselves for the Bridegroom to receive His bride.

While tired, perplexed and spent, we pastors “… give thanks in all circumstances”, [I Thessalonians 5:18a (ESV)] especially for you. Prayers, encouragements, patience, unity, forbearance and love allow us to shepherd “… with joy and not with groaning.” [Hebrews 13:17b ESV)] Let us all continue in this good work, with deep supplications on everyone’s behalf, including ours. We need you, and together with Jesus our head [Ephesians 5:23], as The Shepherd, we shall persevere through. What a glorious life He’s given in Him and in one another, the church.

Finally, rest upon this, that "This same Jesus who is taken up from you shall so come in like manner as you've seen Him go into heaven." [Acts 1:11] And, "You can know this for sure, it's the Father's will that all that the Father gives Him He will raise up at the last day and will lose none of that," [John 6:39] Fellow strangers and pilgrims, what a heavenly promise worth both living and dying for while we now momentarily reside in a world that… is not our home.

Christian hope can elevate to a confident expectation. We all hope for an end to the pandemic, and that national unity and world peace would come about soon, come about quickly. So let us so pray and pray earnestly so. “… I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior”. [I Timothy 2:1-3 (ESV)]

Make a new beginning in 2020 and feed your soul with the sustenance it so desperately desires but gets quickly crowded out with the tyranny of the urgent and the alluring which tantalize. Rise “… early… seek Thee” anew, just as our Lord Jesus did when He arose and prayed, accepting that His “mercies… are new every morning”.

All of life is worship, and all of life is sacred 13, including honorable and lawful work as a vehicle to glorify God 14 wherever Christians find themselves (whether in full-time ministerial work or full-time non-ministerial work). And thus, arguably, all work for us Christians is full-time ministerial work