BY PASTOR NANCY RIEKE, OUR SAVIOR’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32 The gifts are unwrapped, the cookies are reduced to crumbs in the bottom of the tupperware container; the hustle and bustle of the holidays has subsided, and life is beginning, for the most part anyway, to return to normal. Suddenly Christmas present is Christmas past. And Christmas future? Well, I know a few people who’ve already begun shopping with all the post-Christmas sales but for the rest of us… we’re on to the new year, with not just a little fear and trepidation.
If the news up until now is any indication, this election year promises to be another challenging one but no matter what side you most identify with, we must not let doubt and fear divide us. Division is the work of Satan. The Prince of Peace calls us to be peacemakers.
That doesn’t mean we sit passively and watch the world go by. No, not at all. It means we do everything in our power to educate ourselves, to fact check, to stand with goodness and light, with truth and grace. To be purposely for each other, no matter their tribe or creed, remembering we are brothers and sisters in Christ, our Lord.
The world will always choose to fight; the Christian must always choose to trust. On the heels of our celebration of His birth, remembering the gifts of Christmas - hope, peace, joy and love - will ensure us a fresh, new start. God is with us, and though everything else shifts and changes, our God will never leave us.
So…let’s meet 2024 together with confidence and joy! Happy New Year everyone!