1-1-2021

Good Morning All, 

           Hebrews 13:8; “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

    2020 is officially in the books, it is history, all over, done, kaput, finished; I really wish this is true.  It is now 2021, it must be better, right?  I guess it depends on what you mean.  Despite the covid and the quarantines and lockdowns and whatever, the US economy is in pretty good shape.  Spending was up in the third quarter.  I have heard anecdotally that some of our local businesses had some of their best quarters this year.  USDA says net farm income was up this year so overall, was it that bad?

    It would appear that 2020 was like all other years, there were some winners and there were some losers.  There were some highlights and some low lights.  Loved ones died, new babies were born, and life went on ebbing and flowing as it always does.

    I do not mean to make light of the pain and suffering which so many experienced in the past year.  Even the days ahead appear to be daunting with little respite in the offing and with that the new year begins.  Will it be better, worse, about the same, it is anybody’s guess.  You can change your impression of the way things are going by changing the place where you get your evening news.  It seems the news has become like the weather reports, if you do not like the one you hear keep looking until you find the one you like.  The current truth in the news seems to be there is no truth, just make it up as you go.  Whichever way the popularity wind blows is the direction you go; no wonder trust in our institutions is at an all-time low.

    Graciously, God has given to us, his redeemed children, a shining light of hope.  In this world of twisted darkness, Jesus shines through.  His merciful goodness, revealed to us on the cross, in His Word and in His sacraments are the steady anchor we need.  The good news is that the world can turn over on its head, but Jesus never changes.  His love for you does not depend on someone else’s opinion, it does not depend current fads or popularity; it relies on the unquenchable love which was poured out upon us at the cross by Jesus.  The one truth, the one great truth that we can cling to is that God’s mercy, through Jesus is ours, and that was true yesterday, it is true today and it will be true tomorrow.  We can rely on this fact.  We can rest because of this great truth; we can have peace because of God’s holy promise.

    So however last year went, however this year goes, whichever way this broken creation wobbles, God’s love for your never changes.  God’s love for you never has an ending point.  God’s love for you is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret