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January 4
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“I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD.'”  (Psalm 122:1, KJV)

Okay, a status check: Do we (really) look forward to opportunities for corporate worship?

A lot of things conspire to dampen our enthusiasm for worship with others: The sermon doesn’t engage us; the hymns seem random; and — truth be told — the other folks at worship don’t seem too keen to be there, either.

No matter.  Perhaps a clue to David’s enthusiasm for approaching the place of corporate worship is found in the preceding psalm (Psalm 121:2): “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!”

For all of God’s gifts to us, gratitude and praise is the only appropriate response.  In the words of an old song of the church, “count your many blessings; count them one by one.  Count your many blessings, see what God has done!”

Brighten your day with gratitude and praise!  – Luther

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January 1
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New Year’s Day

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen.”  (Jude 1:24-25, NIV)

Jude’s benediction — his letter’s final words — are a fitting beginning to the new year.

There are things we’ve done in year’s past that we wish we hadn’t done; there are opportunities we’ve left unexplored, but we need not despair: It is Jesus alone Who is able to present us to the ultimate Judge “without fault and with great joy.”

None of us knows what this new year holds, but we need not despair: Through it all, and at the end of all; He is able to keep us from stumbling, both now and forevermore!  – Luther

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December 31
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“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”  (Matthew 24:44, NIV)

God often first gives us the answers before giving us the test.

In these final chapters of Matthew’s Gospel (chapters 24-25), Jesus is emphatic in His teaching about the nature of the kingdom of heaven; and He is equally emphatic in His teaching about the final judgment of God, and what is required of you and me.  You see, Jesus wants everyone to pass; but everyone must pass with his or her own work.  No cheating.

The key to successfully facing any crisis — whether financial, emotional, physical, or spiritual — is readiness.  The time to get ready is now.  The adage is never more true: “You cannot give what you do not have.”

Are you ready?  – Luther

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