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The Year 2020

This year has led us through paths wrought with the pestilence of a virus, manifold occasions for fear, the devastation of loss, seething frustration and unrestrained violence... And all of these things have at least one thing in common - corrosion.

It's been a year filled with corrosive opportunity - opportunities for the corrosion of body, mind and spirit, the corrosion of faith, hope, love and contentment...

... but the God who is love, the anchor of our hope and the champion of our faith in Him is absolutely not changed.

"Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation." Exodus 19:5-6 (NLT)

"Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him." Deuteronomy 7:9 (NLT)

To those who belong to Him faithfully, He's not left them to chance or turned a blind eye. He's not ignorant of their troubles or the threats against them, but He might call them to observe the direction of the path that they're on, or He may call their attention to the things they're holding onto with dear affection and to where, or in whom, they've ultimately and truly placed their faith and trust. We can't always understand what His far greater mind intends or allows, but we know that it's in His heart always to profit us eternally according to the values and far greater than gold standard of His economy.

What is it that we hold dear? Is it what we claim to possess on the earth - knowing that in truth all things belong to God? Or His promises to us? What we see now in our time here is like the screen on which a movie might be projected, but at the right time it'll be rolled up to reveal what truly exists behind it. When that happens, all that we've touched in this life will be gone. We know this in essence from what we've been taught ... but do we believe it enough to hold it unshakably true?

Politics, economics, illness, chaos, threats and destruction have existed through the centuries and millennia of man, but we're tempted in times of good and plenty to consider ourselves immune. Then when trouble comes we may find an opportunity to be shaken. But throughout all of time and the tempests that man might encounter, there's been one patient hope - one patient and solid anchor for the hearts, minds and even bodies of mankind that never changes. In the storm we might cry out and remember Him, when in times of blessing we might forget.

The year 2020 may have been a year that has brought challenge and trials, but as in all things and times, our patient hope has remained unchanged, waiting for our remembrance...

As this year closes out, there remains before us and opportunity. It's an opportunity to remember, rekindle and reaffirm our faith, hope and love for the hope we were undeservedly presented in Christ's birth.

 Let this be the defining hallmark we place on the year 2020 - a joyous celebration observed in spirit and in truth, one of thanksgiving for the hope and the grace we were gifted by the most gracious and patient God who loves us more dearly than we can comprehend...

             "Come, let us behold Him, born the King of angels."

"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)

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