Good morning:
After several dreary, gloomy days, I haven’t heard anyone say, “This is great! This is my favorite time of year!” When the sun doesn’t shine and the day never gets any brighter than a dim twilight, it’s hard to feel very energetic or excited about anything. We yawn our way through the hours. School and work drag on like endless drudgery. We crave clear blue sky and a brilliant sun overhead.
It is not just a cloudy day which can drag us down. The dreariness of sin and its effects is far worse. It’s hard to get too excited about the world when we constantly hear of political infighting, international tensions, new viruses, and predictions of even worse things to come. Then there are the little things which are not so minor in our own personal lives: family stress, the plan that fell apart, the unexpected bill.
The Lord warns that all these troubles are visible signs of a far greater spiritual problem. Isaiah writes, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Is. 59:2). Our outward lives could be going smoothly, the sky could be sunny without a cloud to be seen, but if we are not at peace with God, we are living in the worst kind of darkness.
Are you craving a little sunshine, something to wake you up and energize the hours ahead? Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12). Take all the gloom and shadows of sin and its curse to the Savior. The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. With sin fully paid for, there is reason for hope and joy in even the most trying circumstances. “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:31-32).
Whether the sun comes out today or not, spend some time in the light of God’s Word. See how it shines through the clouds and haze of sin and shows us Jesus as our unfailing hope no matter how dark things may appear. Look to Him for the energy, confidence, and excitement to make the most of this time of grace. See what a difference it makes. Living in His light, we can truly say, “This is great!”
Yours in Christ,
Pastor
Services tomorrow are at 8:00 and 10:45 a.m. Choir is at 9:10 and Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Adult Bible class begins at 9:45 a.m.
The quarterly voters meeting gets underway after second service. There are a number of important matters on the agenda, so all voters are urged to set aside time to attend. Non-voters are always welcome to sit in and hear of the work the Lord has placed before us.
