O gracious Father, here at the beginning of a new year in the life of Trinity Fellowship, we thank you afresh for the coming of Christ. We've recently contemplated again Jesus' birth. Then he set his face to go to Jerusalem. He went out to Calvary bearing his own cross. The Cross and the Resurrection. The defeat of Satan, sin, and death. Your right hand and your holy arm accomplishing salvation for the sake of your name!
We tremble at the judgment Jesus pronounced upon Jerusalem and the temple. But we also rejoice over Pentecost and the New Temple, the Spirit of Christ dwelling in the midst of the church. Your Spirit is transforming us, changing us from the inside out so that we can obey the law of Christ. We respond anew to your grace with wholehearted devotion. Like the widow at the temple, we yield to you everything we have. Oh Lord we cast down our idols.
This past year you gave and you took away. Whatever the new year may bring, help us respond with Job: Blessed be the name of the Lord. Thank you for the privilege of sharing each other’s joys and sorrows. Amid worldwide pandemic and the convulsions of our nation, our trust is in you. Surely there is a reward for the righteous. Surely there is a God who judges justly. You are our fortress, a refuge in the day of distress.
May our love for each other this year demonstrate that we are Christ’s disciples. May our unity reflect the unity within the Trinity. May our life together make the good news of Jesus beautiful and believable to a watching world. Help us to be good citizens, to render what we owe to Caesar and to You. Be magnified in our hearts, revealed in Syracuse, and revered among the nations. You are our Strength; we will sing praises to you.
Hat tip: Scotty Smith.
Photo by Ilyas Aliev on Unsplash