Thank You: A Christmas Reflection

'For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.'

The Advent and Christmas season offers another opportunity to refocus.  Yes, all of the hubbub that marks the season has a definite distracting sense, but what a privilege to be anchored in Christ’s church.  The church is God’s place for all of His children and it is here where we hear that old, old story that is wondrously new every year: Messiah has come to save sinners.  It is that hope which provides a future for each of us who have wandered from our Creator.  It is that hope which we hold out to a world lost in darkness.  The story is not finished and Christ is victorious!

The transition from old year to new year is also an opportunity to express gratitude.  So many from across North America have come together to encourage one another in standing upon God’s word and challenging each other to engage one another and our communities with grace, truth, and love.  So “thank you” to those who have served and continue to serve on the Abide steering committee, various working groups, and in many other ways.  We are also grateful for those who have joined in the various events, whether online or in person, as well as individuals and congregations who have supported this work financially.  We hope we can gather with greater frequency in the new year.  But there is deep appreciation for the many prayers, expressions of encouragement, and the stories shared of Christ Jesus at work through the gospel.

And so to him belongs all the glory and the praise.  While this continues to be a difficult road to travel in the Christian Reformed Church, a broad conversation about what it means to be confessionally Reformed and faithful to the gospel has ensued.  While we wrangle through the specific applications, many have been brought into this discussion bringing greater and greater clarity.  We give our thanks to God for his continued faithfulness to us.  In the new year, be fervent in your prayers, eager in your striving, and joyful in our hope, even as we rest in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14 ESV