Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Gloria Dei,
I hope and pray you all had a wonderful Christmas celebration of the birth of our Savior and Lord. It was so good to see the sanctuary filled for all five of our Christmas Eve worship services. We’ll be looking to add one more service to our schedule next Christmas to accommodate all the worshipers. Christ our Savior is born among us each day with the good news of God’s love inspiring and freeing us to live as God’s people in the world. Again, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
This week in worship, as we approach the season of Epiphany, we’ll be hearing the biblical account of the Wise Men and their visit to see Jesus and present him with the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We’ll also be reading from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, who promises the coming age of the Messiah. For worship, please read Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12.
I have a special love for the book of Isaiah. I chose one of its passages to be read at my ordination into ministry service way back in 1990 (Isaiah 43:1-3).
Within Isaiah, there are so many beautiful passages. Some shed light on the coming Messiah. Others bring instructions about following God and God’s ways. Still others bring comfort and instill confidence to move forward.
Isaiah begins in chapter one with a great courtroom scene, complete with judge and witnesses. In the courtroom, God’s people are shown to be guilty of breaking the covenant, or law. Yet how will God, the judge, ultimately rule?
God, the judge, gives his verdict. And the verdict is FORGIVENESS.
My favorite verse in this whole chapter is Isaiah 1:18. God says, “Come now, let us argue it out. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow.”
That brings us to Jesus the Messiah, the one promised and foretold in Isaiah. Jesus is the one in whom you and I have forgiveness. Because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross and in the resurrection, and through faith in him, our sins are forgiven. Completely!
I know we don’t have snow on the ground right now. But as I write this, I hear some snow may be coming this weekend. And no doubt, we’ll get our share of snow between now and the end of March (or later).
So, dear friends, as you see the snow coming down this winter, let it be a reminder of God’s great love for you. Because of Jesus, your sins are forgiven. Though your sins and mine are like scarlet, they shall be like a pure, fresh snowfall. God’s grace declares us righteous again.
As you begin a new year, 2025, soak in the good news of God’s love for you. Like the fresh snow on the ground, God’s grace gives a fresh start, not only in a new year, but each and every day.
May God’s peace and blessings surround you,
Pastor Tim
