2023-2024: The Year in Review
Beginning in October, from the letter of 1 John in chapter 5, Marcia shared with us that the Apostle John’s goal in this letter is:
· to help us be spiritually healthy,
· to urge us to examine ourselves, to take our spiritual pulse so to speak,
· to check for the spiritual vital signs of true belief in Jesus, true love for our fellow believers, and true obedience to the commands of God.
These spiritual vital signs will help us know if we are truly alive in Christ.
In November, from Leviticus 20:26, Katie helped us understand that God calls us to be set apart, to be holy and consecrated to Him, because God Himself is Holy. Jesus came to enable us to be consecrated and aligned with His character.
In December, from Psalm 46, Gay shared the truth that taking refuge in God means actively reminding ourselves of God’s unchanging character:
· that He is always present,
· that He is all-powerful,
· and that He is completely sovereign.
By putting aside our striving and spending time knowing Him, we can be confident that no matter what circumstances arise in our lives, we can find a place of peace and rest in Him.
In January, from 1 Chronicles 17, Lori shared from David’s prayer about the theme of hope. This theme of hope runs throughout this book. We were reminded that because God keeps His promises, as He did with Israel, we can have confidence to come to Him in prayer, and we can find a rest that is full of hope.
In February, from the minor prophets of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, Sierra also shared the message of hope and how God was calling to His people to return to Him so that they could be in communion with Him. God desires communion with His people. Jesus, too, calls us to “come to Him.” He came to open wide our communion with God.
In March, from the prophetic book of Ezekiel, Von shared how God’s grace was extended to His people as He promised to give them a new heart, a new spirit, a new life. We were reminded that we today have that same promise that is offered to us by faith in Christ’s payment on the cross.
In April, from Ezra, Alina helped us to see how God kept His promise of bringing His people back to their land after captivity and preserving a remnant of His people, a remnant through which the promised Messiah would come. That promised Messiah, Jesus, came and paid for our salvation, and through Him we need no longer be unsettled in life but can find a home, belonging, and contentment.
In May, from Nehemiah, Sharon shared that Nehemiah accomplished God’s work using prayer, God’s Word, and a life wholly devoted and dependent on His gracious and merciful God. We were challenged to also be diligent in prayer and in being in God’s Word so that we can draw strength from our gracious and merciful God.
In June, Katie brought us truth from the tiny book of Jude encouraging us to guard our hearts and minds with perseverance so that we can remain in the secure center of God’s love and the promise of His mercy.